In a poll conducted by Monmouth, a majority of Americans believe that many policies in the United States are being manipulated by some form of the “Deep State”.
Of the 800+ people polled, 27 percent stated that they do believe the deep state exists, with 47 percent saying it “probably exists”.
Donald Trump has long spoken of Deep State matters, even earlier this tear Tweeting:
“Crooked Hillary Clinton’s top aide, [sic] Huma Abedin, has been accused of disregarding basic security protocols. She put Classified Passwords into the hands of foreign agents. Remember sailors pictures on submarine? Jail! Deep State Justice Dept must finally act? Also on Comey & others.”
Typically, Republicans and Independents are more likely to believe that the Deep State exists. While only 19 percent of Democrats believe it exists.
From that poll:
A majority of the American public believe that the U.S. government engages in widespread monitoring of its own citizens and worry that the U.S. government could be invading their own privacy. The Monmouth University Poll also finds a large bipartisan majority who feel that national policy is being manipulated or directed by a “Deep State” of unelected government officials. Americans of color on the center and left and NRA members on the right are among those most worried about the reach of government prying into average citizens’ lives.
As reported by Politico:
Approximately 80 percent of those polled also indicated they believe the U.S. government is monitoring or spying on the actives of American citizens. Fifty-three percent said they believe the activity is widespread, and 29 percent said the monitoring is happening, but is not widespread. Only 14 percent said they believe there is no monitoring happening at all.
Few respondents, or 18 percent, said they believe government monitoring is usually justified. Fifty-three percent, however, said that government monitoring is only sometimes justified and an additional 28 percent said it is rarely or never justified.
The poll has a margin of error of 3.5 percentage points and included a random sample of 803 adults. The survey was conducted in English via landline telephones and cellphones.