What are the most notable cases of political killings by left-wing groups since 2025?

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, 2025 marked a significant shift in domestic terrorism patterns in the United States, with left-wing attacks outnumbering right-wing attacks for the first time in over 30 years ^[1]. The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) documented 5 left-wing attacks or plots in 2025, putting the year on pace to be the left's most violent in over three decades ^{[1] [2]}.

Notable cases mentioned include several high-profile incidents: the assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, the fatal shooting of right-wing protester Aaron Danielson, and the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk ^{[1] [2]}. These incidents represent a departure from historical patterns where right-wing violence dominated domestic terrorism statistics.

The Department of Homeland Security has actively responded to this trend, particularly targeting Antifa-aligned groups. DHS reports numerous arrests and charges against individuals involved in violent attacks on law enforcement and ICE facilities ^[3]. The agency has mobilized to enforce an Executive Order designating Antifa as a domestic terrorist organization, resulting in the arrest of dozens of left-wing violent extremists ^[3].

The motivations behind these attacks are primarily driven by anti-government extremism and partisan extremism, with most incidents targeting government and law enforcement personnel ^{[1] [2]}. This pattern suggests a coordinated ideological opposition to state authority rather than random violence.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several critical contextual factors are absent from the original question that significantly impact the interpretation of these events. Left-wing attacks, while more frequent in 2025, remain substantially less lethal than their right-wing counterparts ^[1]. The data shows only 2 fatalities from left-wing violence since 2020, contrasting sharply with the historical lethality of right-wing extremism.

The dramatic decrease in right-wing attacks during 2025 provides crucial context that the original question overlooks ^[2]. This decline may be directly tied to President Donald Trump's 2024 election victory, suggesting that political power dynamics significantly influence extremist violence patterns ^[2]. When one ideological faction gains political power, violence from that side tends to decrease while opposition violence increases.

Historical perspective reveals that right-wing extremist violence has been far more deadly overall, accounting for approximately 75-80% of US domestic terrorism deaths since 2001 ^[4]. This long-term pattern suggests that while 2025 represents an anomaly in frequency, it doesn't necessarily indicate a fundamental shift in the lethality or overall threat level of different extremist movements.

The broader context of political violence in America shows that such incidents remain rare compared to overall violent crime, but their impact is disproportionately large due to their ability to amplify fear and influence policy decisions ^[4]. This psychological and political impact often exceeds the actual physical harm caused.

The rise in left-wing violence correlates with Trump's political prominence over the past decade, suggesting that partisan polarization and specific political figures can serve as catalysts for extremist activity ^[2]. This indicates that political violence often functions as a reactive phenomenon rather than an independent ideological movement.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question contains several potential biases that could mislead readers about the nature and scope of political violence. By focusing exclusively on left-wing killings "since 2025," the question creates a narrow temporal frame that obscures the broader historical context of domestic terrorism in America.

The framing implies that left-wing political killings are a new or unprecedented phenomenon, when the data shows this represents a temporary shift rather than a fundamental change in domestic terrorism patterns ^{[1] [4]}. This selective timeframe could be used to support partisan narratives about which political movements pose greater threats.

The question's emphasis on "notable cases" and "killings" may exaggerate the actual lethality of left-wing violence in 2025. While attacks increased in frequency, the analyses indicate that left-wing violence remains less lethal than right-wing violence historically ^[1].

The question fails to acknowledge the corresponding decrease in right-wing violence during the same period, which provides essential context for understanding why left-wing attacks became more prominent ^[2]. This omission could lead readers to believe that overall political violence increased, rather than understanding that it shifted between different ideological groups.

Political actors and media organizations with interests in portraying left-wing movements as particularly dangerous would benefit from promoting this narrow framing, while those seeking to minimize right-wing extremism might use these statistics to deflect attention from historically more lethal forms of domestic terrorism.