For the first time in more than three decades, far-left attacks outnumber those of the far right in the United States—a turning point that signals a shift in the country’s terrorism landscape.
The assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk has thrown the spotlight back on political violence in the United States, already marked by extreme polarization. According to a study by the American think tank CSIS, 2025 marks an unprecedented break: terrorist acts attributed to radical left groups or individuals now exceed, for the first time in over thirty years, those committed by the far right. This trend is all the more striking as it coincides with a decline in jihadist-inspired violence and a temporary weakening of the right-wing extremist movement.
The CSIS analysis stresses that although the threat from the radical left remains far less lethal than that of its ideological rivals, its recent rise warrants heightened vigilance. The phenomenon, which began in 2016, has intensified with growing tensions around President Donald Trump’s second term. Attacks on institutions, targeted assaults on political figures or law-enforcement officers—far-left violence is rooted in a partisan and anti-government logic at the intersection of identity, social, and environmental struggles.
The report nevertheless points to structural limits: weak organization, low killing capacity, and frequent reliance on methods such as arson or targeted assaults rather than mass-casualty actions. This does not prevent a significant psychological impact, fueled by fears of political escalation and the media amplification of each successful attack.
At the same time, the sharp drop in far-right acts raises questions. It may be explained by convergence between that movement’s longstanding grievances—opposition to immigration, rejection of abortion, denunciations of the “deep state”—and the policies openly pursued by the Trump administration. This absorption temporarily reduces the perceived need for violent actions on the margins of the system. But CSIS researchers warn that this lull may be only a brief interlude, and a return to higher levels cannot be ruled out, particularly as the 2028 elections approach.
Experts argue the response must be twofold: bolster counterterrorism resources across the board, without exceptions, and reject any legitimization of political violence. Leaders on both the right and the left are urged to condemn such excesses unequivocally, to prevent small extremist minorities from feeling buoyed by an implicit climate of tolerance. In a democracy weakened by ideological fractures, even the slightest indulgence toward terrorism—whatever its source—can feed an uncontrollable cycle of violence.
