Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) recently drew attention to a new study highlighting a rise in left-wing terrorism in the United States. In a post on X, Fetterman shared a screenshot of an Axios article titled, **“Study: Left-wing terrorism climbs to 30-year high,”** and warned that inflammatory political rhetoric could contribute to further violence.
Fetterman emphasized that political violence has no justification. He stated, “Unchecked extreme rhetoric, like labels such as Hitler or fascist, will foment more extreme outcomes.” He added, “Political violence is always wrong, no exceptions. We must all turn the temperature down.”
### Study Findings: Rise in Left-Wing Terrorism
The Axios article summarized findings from the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS), which analyzed a dataset of 750 domestic attacks and plots carried out between January 1, 1994, and July 4, 2025. According to CSIS, left-wing terrorism reached its highest level in three decades during the first half of 2025.
While far-right violence has historically been more frequent, incidents attributed to right-wing extremists declined significantly in the first six months of this year. Conversely, left-wing extremists have carried out an increasing number of attacks.
Key findings from the report include:
– Since 2016, left-wing extremists were responsible for 41 attacks compared to 152 attacks committed by right-wing extremists.
– Left-wing violence has resulted in 13 deaths over the past decade, while right-wing attacks have accounted for 112 deaths. Jihadist violence led to 82 deaths in the same period.
– So far in 2025, at least five left-wing plots or attacks have been recorded, compared with just one attributed to right-wing extremists.
### Context and Reactions
The report’s release follows the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk on September 10 at Utah Valley University, where he was killed while speaking at a student event. Utah Governor Spencer Cox (R) disclosed that investigators found bullet casings in the shooter’s rifle etched with political messages, including the phrase: “Hey fascist! Catch!”
This killing intensified scrutiny over the use of political rhetoric directed at conservative leaders. Breitbart News reported that several Democrats, including California Governor Gavin Newsom, have continued using labels like “fascist” to describe Trump administration officials such as White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller.
The combination of the CSIS data and the assassination has heightened concerns about the rise of politically motivated violence from the left. Law enforcement officials note a growing number of cases this year, pointing to a shifting domestic threat environment.
Senator Fetterman’s remarks on X mark a rare public call from a Democratic senator urging cooler heads and caution in political discourse, especially regarding the use of extreme labels that could inflame tensions.
### Outlook
As of now, federal agencies have not issued additional public advisories following the release of the CSIS report. However, the findings are expected to play a significant role in ongoing debates about how to effectively address politically motivated violence in the United States.
https://www.lifezette.com/2025/09/john-fetterman-breaks-from-fellow-democrats-calls-out-left-wing-terrorism-watch/
