Politics
Poll Finds More Than 1 in 5 College Students Believe America ‘Deserved’ 9/11 Attacks
A new survey has revealed how some American college students view the September 11 terrorist attacks.
A Buckley Institute poll found that 22 percent of college students agreed with the statement, “America deserved September 11th,” according to a report the New York Post published on Wednesday, November 11.
Per the report, the survey, which questioned 803 undergraduate students nationwide, found that 72 percent disagreed with the statement, while another 6.5 percent were unsure.
The poll comes 25 years after the terrorist attacks, when al Qaeda hijacked four planes. Two crashed into the World Trade Center in New York City, one hit the Pentagon and another went down in Pennsylvania. Nearly 3,000 people were killed.
The students surveyed were between 18 and 24 years old, meaning most were not alive on 9/11 when the attacks took place, per the New York Post.
The poll also uncovered sharp divisions over the country’s future and economic system.
When asked whether they would prefer to live under capitalism or socialism, 42 percent chose socialism, compared to 28 percent who preferred capitalism. Another 31 percent were unsure, the outlet reported.
Meanwhile, 65 percent agreed with the statement, “I am proud to be an American,” while 29 percent disagreed.
The results also raised questions about attitudes toward free speech on college campuses.
According to the report, about 40 percent of students agreed that “Offensive speech should be subject to criminal prosecution,” compared to 52 percent who disagreed.
“This year’s survey demonstrates that censorious attitudes remain stubbornly high on America’s college campuses,” Lauren Noble, founder and executive director of the Buckley Institute, said in an October 8 press release.
The poll also found that 38 percent of students considered Palestine a better ally for the United States, compared to 25 percent who chose Israel. Another 37 percent were unsure, per the report.
According to the outlet, the national survey was conducted by Inquire LLC for the Buckley Institute from September 5 through September 14, 2026, with a margin of error of 3.5 percentage points.
