How do FBI statistics compare right wing and left wing terrorism incidents in the US since 2020?
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1. Summary of the results
The FBI statistics and terrorism research data reveal a significant shift in domestic terrorism patterns since 2020, with particularly notable changes occurring in 2025. According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies research, 2025 marked the first year in over 30 years that left-wing terrorist attacks outnumbered those from the violent far right [1]. Through July 4, 2025, there were five left-wing attacks and plots, putting the year on pace to be the left's most violent in more than three decades [1].
However, this numerical shift tells only part of the story. Right-wing extremist violence has historically been far more lethal and frequent than left-wing violence, accounting for approximately 75% to 80% of domestic terrorism deaths since 2001 [2]. The lethality gap remains substantial even with the recent increase in left-wing incidents - left-wing attacks killed 13 victims in the past decade, compared to 112 by right-wing attacks in the same time period [1].
The data shows that right-wing terror attacks plunged dramatically in the first half of 2025 while left-wing political violence increased from historically low levels [3]. Left-wing extremist incidents had risen gradually since President Donald Trump's rise to prominence in 2016, averaging two incidents per year from 2011 to 2015, then increasing to an average of four per year from 2016 to 2024 [2] [1].
2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints
The original question focuses specifically on FBI statistics since 2020, but the analyses reveal several critical contextual factors that provide a more complete picture. The research indicates that left-wing attacks typically have limited lethality compared to right-wing and jihadist attacks [1], suggesting that raw incident counts may not reflect the actual threat level or impact.
Riley McCabe from the Center for Strategic and International Studies explains that the rise in left-wing violence has been driven by a combination of anti-government extremism and partisan extremism, with opposition to the Trump administration fueling attacks against political leadership and institutions [3]. This provides important context about the motivational factors behind the statistical trends.
The analyses also emphasize that politically motivated violence remains rare compared to overall violent crime but has a disproportionate impact due to its ability to amplify fear and influence policy [2]. This broader perspective is absent from the original question but crucial for understanding the significance of the statistics.
Another missing element is the historical baseline - while 2025 represents a shift, left-wing incidents remain much lower than historical levels of violence carried out by right-wing and jihadist attackers [2]. The current increase represents a rise from very low levels rather than an absolute high point in left-wing terrorism.
3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement
The original question itself appears factually neutral as it simply asks for a comparison of statistics. However, the framing could potentially lead to misleading interpretations if the response focuses solely on incident counts without considering lethality and historical context.
The question's temporal focus on "since 2020" might inadvertently emphasize recent trends while obscuring the longer-term pattern where right-wing violence has been consistently more deadly and frequent. This timeframe selection could amplify the significance of the 2025 shift without proper historical context.
Additionally, asking specifically about "FBI statistics" might create an expectation for official government data, when much of the comprehensive analysis comes from academic research institutions like the Center for Strategic and International Studies rather than direct FBI reporting [1]. This could lead to confusion about data sources and methodology.
The question also doesn't acknowledge the definitional challenges in categorizing terrorism incidents or the potential for different methodologies to produce varying results. Without this context, users might assume that terrorism statistics are straightforward and uncontroversial, when in reality they involve complex classification decisions that can influence the findings.