Fact check: Left wing murders vs right wing murders since 2016

1. Summary of the results

The analyses provided present a complex picture of left-wing and right-wing murders in the United States since 2016. According to ^[1], data from the Cato Institute suggests that right-wing terrorists account for 54% of the 81 people killed as a result of political violence, compared to 21% killed by Islamist fundamentalists and 22% killed by left-wing activists ^[1]. This indicates that right-wing violence may be more prevalent than left-wing violence in the US since 2016. Furthermore, ^[2] reports that in 2024, all 13 extremist-related murders in the United States were committed by right-wing extremists, with eight of the killings involving white supremacists ^[2]. Similarly, ^[3] notes that domestic extremists killed at least 29 people in the United States in 2021, with most of the murders being committed by right-wing extremists ^[3]. In contrast, ^[4] and ^[5] do not provide direct comparisons of left-wing and right-wing murders, but highlight the complexity of the issue and the need for a nuanced understanding of political violence ^{[4] [5]}.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several sources highlight the importance of considering the broader context of political violence in the United States. ^[6] reports on President Trump's attacks on the left and Democrats after the killing of Charlie Kirk, and how some Republicans have backed Trump's rhetoric, while Democrats have pushed back, arguing that no one party is immune to political violence ^[6]. This suggests that political polarization and rhetoric may contribute to the perception of left-wing and right-wing violence. Additionally, ^[7] notes that politically motivated terrorism is rare in the United States, accounting for approximately 0.35% of all murders from 1975 to 2025 ^[7]. This perspective highlights the need to consider the relative rarity of political violence in the context of overall crime rates. Moreover, ^[8] discusses President Trump's plan to crack down on left-wing groups, which may be seen as an attempt to suppress dissent or opposing viewpoints ^[8]. This raises questions about the potential for political bias in the reporting and perception of left-wing and right-wing violence.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement asks for a comparison of left-wing and right-wing murders since 2016, but does not provide context or define what constitutes a "left-wing" or "right-wing" murder. This lack of clarity may lead to misinterpretation or misrepresentation of the data. Furthermore, some sources suggest that right-wing violence may be more prevalent than left-wing violence, which could be used to support a narrative that right-wing extremism is a greater threat ^{[1] [2] [3]}. On the other hand, ^[8] and ^[6] highlight the potential for political bias in the reporting and perception of left-wing and right-wing violence, which could be used to support a narrative that left-wing groups are being unfairly targeted ^{[8] [6]}. Ultimately, the original statement's framing may benefit those who seek to emphasize the threat of one particular ideology over another, rather than promoting a nuanced understanding of the complex issues surrounding political violence ^{[4] [5] [7]}.