For years I tolerated the right-wing narrative that political violence in America is some sort of “both sides” issue. That Antifa is just as bad as white supremacists. That January 6th was a false flag. That Islamic terrorism is the only real kind. I’m done tolerating the lies.
Here’s the truth — backed by data from across multiple newsrooms, the FBI, and terrorism trackers like CSIS and the ADL: right-wing political violence absolutely dominates the ideological homicide landscape in the United States.
Let’s look at the actual killings — not rhetoric, not protests, not property damage, but cold-blooded murder for political or religious ideology.
Recent Ideological Murders in the U.S. (2019–2025)
| Motivation | Incident | Fatalities | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Right-wing | Buffalo, NY – May 2022 | 10 | White supremacist targeted Black shoppers; “Great Replacement” ideology. |
| Allen, TX – May 2023 | 8 | Neo-Nazi shooter wore “RWDS” patch, posted racist manifestos. | |
| Jacksonville, FL – Aug 2023 | 3 | Racially motivated hate crime at Dollar General. | |
| Left-wing | Portland, OR – Aug 2020 | 1 | Antifa supporter killed Patriot Prayer member. |
| Islamic extremist | New Orleans, LA – Jan 2025 | 14 | Pledged loyalty to ISIS, carried out mass killing on Bourbon Street. |
| Other | Jersey City, NJ – Dec 2019 | 4 | Black Hebrew Israelite antisemitic attack on kosher market. |
Pattern: Right-Wing Terror Is the Bulk of It
Let me be blunt: if you still think left-wing violence is the main threat, you’re either in a cult or unwilling to face facts. Right-wing terrorism in the U.S. is the most consistent and deadly category of ideologically-motivated murder. The data’s not close. The Buffalo massacre, the Allen mall shooting, and the Jacksonville hate crime all came from right-wing ideologies that are cultivated in online echo chambers and defended by bad-faith media.
But what about Antifa? Well, there’s exactly one confirmed Antifa murder in recent history — the 2020 Portland shooting of a Patriot Prayer member. That’s it. One. Is that okay? No. But it’s not comparable. If you think it is, you’re not analyzing — you’re rationalizing.
January 6th Was Not a False Flag. Stop Being an Idiot.
The number of people I’ve heard claim January 6th was “staged by the left” is staggering. If it were staged… why did Trump literally pardon them? Why are dozens of these goons proudly posting selfies and livestreaming their sedition? Why did so many Republicans suddenly backtrack after it happened?
It wasn’t staged. It was a failed insurrection, fueled by lies, egged on by the President, and supported by a militant undercurrent in the American right wing that wants authoritarianism when it suits them.
Yes, Islamic Terror Still Exists. And Moderate Muslims Need to Reckon With That.
I’m not giving Islamism a pass. The 2025 Bourbon Street mass murder was straight-up ISIS-inspired terror. And the U.S. Muslim population — around 1% — has produced a disproportionate share of lethal ideological violence over the past two decades. That’s real. That’s a problem.
But it doesn’t let right-wing Christians off the hook. Moderate Muslims and moderate Christians need to stop acting like they can passively disown the radicals while still defending the culture that nurtures them.
Religion gives people meaning — and, when left unchecked, it gives radicals moral license to murder. That goes for jihadists, incel shooters citing Bible verses, and Black Hebrew Israelites gunning down Jews.
Final Word: Enough With the Bothsidesism
I’m tired of polite conversations that pretend left-wing and right-wing extremism are equally dangerous in America. They are not. We’ve got dead bodies piling up from one side far more than the other. This isn’t about winning a debate — it’s about stopping a national delusion.
If you’re still pretending otherwise in 2025, you’re not conservative. You’re complicit.