As Americans stew over the looming risk of job-stealing AI and data centers in their back yards, the feds are raising the alarm about a new category of threat, documents obtained by WIRED show.
Trump’s counterterrorism czar, Sebastian Gorka, released a public counterterrorism strategy claiming that left-wing extremists are one of the three top counterterrorism priorities facing the United States.
While left-wing political violence is “on the rise”, historically, political violence in the United States comes from the Right. Incidents of left-wing violence also tend to have “low lethality rates”.
What Is to Be Done?
“First, the government should avoid overreacting with crackdowns on peaceful organizations, which will serve to strengthen extremist views.”
“Second, it is important to resource all dimensions of the terrorism threat. Left-wing terrorism is a Trump administration priority, but jihadist terrorism also remains a concern even though it has declined. Right-wing terrorism could come roaring back, especially if in 2028 there are complaints of a “stolen election” or similar incendiary claims.”
“Finally, although leaders are not responsible for extremists in their midst, they are responsible for how they behave toward extremists. U.S. political leaders and activists need to lead by condemning violence on their side and calling for calm when it involves violence on the other side.”
Do these sound like the priorities of the Trump administration?
Here’s what the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) says about extremism in the United States: Left-Wing Terrorism and Political Violence in the United States: What the Data Tells Us
While left-wing political violence is “on the rise”, historically, political violence in the United States comes from the Right. Incidents of left-wing violence also tend to have “low lethality rates”.
Do these sound like the priorities of the Trump administration?
The message is clear. They want to quell opposition, not violence.