Fact check: What were the most common targets of right-wing extremist attacks in the USA in 2022 and 2023?

1. Summary of the results

The most common targets of right-wing extremist attacks in the USA in 2022 and 2023 were ethnic and religious minorities, government officials, and ideological opponents ^[1]. According to the Homeland Threat Assessment 2025, right-wing extremists have used online messaging to promote the swatting and doxxing of ideological opponents ^[1]. The CSIS Brief notes that right-wing extremists pose the most significant terrorism threat to the United States, based on annual terrorist events and fatalities ^[2]. The FBI defines domestic terrorism as violent, criminal acts committed by individuals and/or groups to further ideological goals stemming from domestic influences ^[3]. Other sources, such as ^[7] and ^[4], highlight the threat posed by white supremacist groups, with all of the extremist-related murders in 2023 being committed by right-wing extremists, and 15 of the 17 killings involving perpetrators or accomplices with white supremacist connections ^[4]. Additionally, anti-government extremists have targeted government officials, candidates, and political staff, motivated by partisan political beliefs ^[5].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Some sources, such as ^[6], do not provide specific data or analysis on the most common targets of right-wing extremist attacks in the USA in 2022 and 2023 ^[6]. However, other sources, like ^[2] and ^[5], provide information on the growing threat of right-wing terrorism, with the most significant threat coming from white supremacists, and discuss the role of social media in spreading extremist ideologies ^[2]. The 2025 Homeland Threat Assessment highlights the threat of domestic violent extremists, including those motivated by white supremacist ideologies, and discusses the use of social media and other technologies by extremist groups ^[1]. It is also worth noting that women played a role in some of the right-wing extremist violence incidents, either as perpetrators or accomplices ^[4]. Furthermore, the definition of domestic terrorism by the FBI emphasizes the importance of ideological goals stemming from domestic influences ^[3], which may not be fully captured by the original statement.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement may benefit law enforcement agencies and policymakers by highlighting the need for increased attention to right-wing extremist threats ^{[1] [2]}. However, it may also be influenced by a pro-government bias, as it focuses on the threat posed by right-wing extremists to government officials and ideological opponents ^{[1] [5]}. Additionally, the statement may overemphasize the role of white supremacist ideologies in right-wing extremist attacks, potentially downplaying the threat posed by other types of extremist groups ^{[7] [4]}. On the other hand, civil liberties organizations may argue that the statement does not fully capture the complexity of the issue and the need to balance security concerns with individual rights and freedoms ^[3]. Overall, the statement may be influenced by a security-focused narrative, which may benefit government agencies and think tanks, but may not fully account for the nuances and complexities of the issue ^{[2] [5]}.