Fact check: Which ideological motivations are most commonly associated with domestic terrorism in the US?

1. Summary of the results

The analyses provided suggest that domestic terrorism in the US is a complex and multifaceted issue, with various ideological motivations contributing to the threat landscape ^[1]. Racially or ethnically motivated violent extremism is identified as the largest category of incidents, accounting for approximately 35% of domestic terrorism incidents between 2010 and 2021 ^[2]. Additionally, anti-government or anti-authority motivated violent extremism is also a significant concern, resulting in 15 deaths over the same time period ^[2]. Right-wing extremism, particularly white supremacist ideology, is highlighted as a significant threat to domestic security in the United States, with a growing number of incidents and fatalities attributed to this type of terrorism ^{[3] [4] [5]}. The sources also note that lone actors radicalized online pose a significant threat, and that the internet and social media have enabled international and domestic violent extremists to recruit and radicalize individuals ^{[1] [6]}. Furthermore, the analyses suggest that partisan political beliefs and conspiracy theories surrounding US elections have contributed to an increase in domestic terrorist attacks and plots against government targets ^[7].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Some sources emphasize the need for improved collaboration and information sharing between agencies to combat domestic terrorism ^[2]. Others highlight the importance of addressing the root causes of extremism, such as social and economic inequality, to prevent radicalization (not explicitly mentioned in the provided analyses, but a relevant consideration in the broader context of counterterrorism). Additionally, the sources primarily focus on right-wing extremism, with less attention devoted to left-wing extremism or other ideological motivations, which may also contribute to the domestic terrorism threat landscape ^[5]. It is also worth noting that the definition of domestic terrorism can vary between sources, with the FBI defining it as violent, criminal acts committed by individuals and/or groups to further ideological goals stemming from domestic influences ^[6].

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement asks about the ideological motivations most commonly associated with domestic terrorism in the US, but does not provide a clear definition of domestic terrorism or specify the time period of interest ^{[1] [6]}. This lack of context may lead to inaccurate or incomplete conclusions about the nature of the threat. Furthermore, some sources suggest that right-wing extremism is often underreported or downplayed, while left-wing extremism is overemphasized, which could contribute to a biased understanding of the threat landscape ^[5]. The sources also highlight the importance of avoiding partisan or ideological biases in assessing and addressing the domestic terrorism threat, as this can undermine effective counterterrorism efforts ^{[7] [3]}. Overall, it is essential to consider multiple sources and perspectives to gain a comprehensive understanding of the complex issue of domestic terrorism in the US ^{[1] [3] [4] [2]}.