Fact check: Do right wing extremists kill more people than left wing extremists?

1. Summary of the results

The majority of the analyses suggest that right-wing extremists are responsible for more fatalities than left-wing extremists ^{[1] [2] [3] [4]}. Specifically, a source reports that in 2024, all identified extremist-related killings in the United States were committed by right-wing extremists, with the majority being committed by white supremacists ^[1]. Another source presents research comparing political violence by left-wing, right-wing, and Islamist extremists in the United States and worldwide, finding that radical acts perpetrated by individuals associated with left-wing causes are less likely to be violent ^[2]. Additionally, a source discusses the rise of political violence in the United States, citing research that shows right-wing extremist violence has been responsible for the overwhelming majority of fatalities from domestic terrorism ^[3]. However, some sources do not provide a direct comparison of the number of people killed by right-wing and left-wing extremists, and instead focus on the growing problem of violence in the U.S. ^[5] or the potential for both left-wing and right-wing groups to pose a danger ^[6].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Some sources note that both left-wing and right-wing groups pose a danger to the United States ^{[6] [7]}, and that radical acts perpetrated by individuals associated with left-wing causes are less likely to be violent ^[2]. However, these sources do not provide a direct comparison of the number of people killed by right-wing and left-wing extremists. Furthermore, a source suggests that right-wing groups have greater potential for mounting a significant effort because they espouse traditional American values ^[6]. Another source notes that online extremism is a growing problem, but does not provide direct evidence to support or contradict the claim ^[5]. It is also important to consider the definition of extremism and how it is measured, as this can impact the comparison of fatalities between right-wing and left-wing extremists ^[2].

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement may be misleading or biased because it does not provide context about the definition of extremism or the time period being considered ^{[1] [4]}. Additionally, some sources suggest that both left-wing and right-wing groups pose a danger, which may not be reflected in the original statement ^{[6] [7]}. The statement may also be influenced by a particular ideology or agenda, as some sources note that right-wing groups have greater potential for mounting a significant effort because they espouse traditional American values ^[6]. Overall, it is crucial to consider multiple sources and perspectives when evaluating the claim that right-wing extremists kill more people than left-wing extremists ^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [6] [5] [7]}.