Left-Wing Terrorism Surges, Study Says — What Republicans Need to Know
- Left-wing violence has climbed and now outnumbers right-wing attacks this year.
- Data is messy, labels are stretched, and narrative control matters.
- Policy should target real threats, back law enforcement, and protect free speech.
New research shows left-wing terrorism at a 30-year high, and that should make conservatives and anyone who values order sit up. The Center for Strategic and International Studies, a nonpartisan outfit, found left-wing attacks have increased enough this year to outnumber violent far-right incidents. That flip is significant, even if the absolute numbers are still lower than past right-wing peaks.
In recent years, the United States has seen an increase in the number of left-wing terrorism attacks and plots, although such violence has risen from very low levels and remains much lower than historical levels of violence carried out by right-wing and jihadist attackers.
So far, 2025 marks the first time in more than 30 years that left-wing terrorist attacks outnumber those from the violent far right.
Despite its decline this year, right-wing terrorism could easily return to previous high levels. It is important to resource counterterrorism efforts against both right- and left-wing terrorism and work with communities to gain their support against extremists.
Leaders across the political spectrum must condemn violent extremism of all kinds, denying it legitimacy and reducing its appeal.
CSIS is careful to remind readers that historically the far right caused more violence, and that caution is fair. Yet in practice we all know labels get tossed around to score political points, and that distorts both reporting and policy. Too often violent acts by disturbed individuals are slapped with ideological tags to justify broader blame against conservatives.
Take the high-profile cases media rushed to label as right-wing; follow-up reporting sometimes shows messy motives, false claims, or outright fabrication. That doesn’t mean conservatives ignore extremism — it means we insist on precise definitions and even-handed enforcement. Real security requires facts, not narratives crafted to shame a movement.
The report arrives in a tense moment: attacks, public figures targeted, and high-profile violence have shaken communities. The assassination of a public conservative figure and other attacks demand accountability and stronger protections at events and campuses. Republicans should push for law enforcement resources, clear legal definitions, and community-based prevention without surrendering free speech.
President Trump’s move to designate Antifa as a domestic terrorist organization reflects a tougher posture many conservatives want to see. “I am pleased to inform our many U.S.A. Patriots that I am designating ANTIFA, A SICK, DANGEROUS, RADICAL LEFT DISASTER, AS A MAJOR TERRORIST ORGANIZATION,” he wrote at the time.
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