Why Political Violence in the U.S. Is a Growing Threat to Democracy

Government should never be so critical that people kill to control it. Those willing to use violence to seize power have no place in governance. These warnings are more urgent than ever following a recent wave of assassination attempts against President Donald Trump and other officials, amid a sharp rise in political violence across the United States.

Cole Tomas Allen’s Attack: A Case Study in Rising Threats

Cole Tomas Allen’s apparent attack at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner was disturbing not for its sophistication but for its ordinariness. His manifesto, filled with familiar political rhetoric, and the limited harm—a single Secret Service agent injured when a bullet was stopped by his vest—highlighted how easily violence can erupt in today’s climate.

Allen’s grievances mirrored those heard at protests nationwide: accusations against the administration, including claims of corruption and abuse of power. He wrote,

"I am no longer willing to permit a pedophile, rapist, and traitor to coat my hands with his crimes."

Political Violence Is Surging Across the U.S.

The true scale of political violence is difficult to measure due to varying definitions and reporting methods. However, multiple studies confirm a disturbing trend:

• CSIS Report: The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) found that "domestic attacks and plots against the U.S. government are at their highest levels since at least 1994," according to The Wall Street Journal.
• START Data: The University of Maryland’s National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) reported that political violence peaked in 2020 and early 2021 but surged by 34.5% in the first eight months of 2025 compared to the same period a year earlier.

Who Is Committing This Violence?

For decades, the assumption was that political violence stemmed primarily from the far right. That is no longer the case. 2025 marks the first time in over 30 years that left-wing terrorist attacks have outnumbered those from the violent far right, according to CSIS researchers Daniel Byman and Riley McCabe, who made the observation in September 2024 following the assassination of Charlie Kirk.

Younger generations are disproportionately involved. A 2024 analysis by the Skeptic Research Center, using data from the American Political Perspectives Survey, revealed:

• Approximately 1 in 3 younger adults (Gen Z and Millennials) expressed support for political violence.
• Support was highest among those identifying as "very liberal."
• Gen Z showed greater support for violence than Millennials; Millennials were more prone to violence than Gen X; and Gen X was more violent than Boomers.
• Across all generations, liberals were more likely to support violence than moderates or conservatives.

Why This Trend Is Alarming

Political violence is not just a threat to individuals—it undermines democratic stability. When people believe violence is justified to achieve political ends, the foundations of governance erode. The rise of left-wing violence, in particular, signals a dangerous shift in the nature of American extremism, one that demands urgent attention from policymakers, law enforcement, and civil society.

As the data shows, the problem is growing. The question now is whether the nation can reverse this trend before it escalates further.