Concerns Over Rising Political Violence in the U.S.

A former FBI agent has cautioned that political violence may be “just beginning” as we move into 2026.

The tragic murder of conservative influencer and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk on September 10 has raised serious alarms. This event marked him as the most notable casualty of politically motivated violence in 2025. As of now, authorities haven’t disclosed a clear motive, but they’ve labeled the incident a “political assassination,” underscoring growing worries about ideologically driven attacks across the nation.

Interestingly, details from the investigation have surfaced, specifically regarding one of the bullets found at the scene, allegedly used by the suspect, Tyler Robinson. The bullet reportedly bore the inscription, “Hey, fascists, get us,” which has ignited discussions about the troubling overlap between political rhetoric and real-world violence.

These warning signs are, perhaps, pretty obvious. In a report from the Department of Homeland Security last November, assaults against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents surged by over 1,150% in 2025 compared to the previous year under the Biden administration.

In a separate incident in late September, a gunman targeted an ICE facility, resulting in the death of one detainee and injuries to two others. The assailant, Joshua Jahn, was reportedly using an app to track the whereabouts of ICE agents.

Jahn had a handwritten note stating, “I hope this gives ICE agents a real scare: ‘Is there a sniper with an AP bullet on that roof?'” This reflects a disturbing trend of targeted assaults based on ideology.

This pattern of violence is not new. Two assassination attempts against President Trump highlighted similar motives. For example, on July 13, 2024, Thomas Crooks, a 20-year-old, opened fire at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, with one bullet hitting the former president. A couple of months later, 58-year-old Ryan Routh was arrested near Trump’s golf club in Florida, armed and apparently waiting for an opportunity.

Jonathan Gilliam, the former FBI agent, stated that Kirk’s death embodies a broader troubling trend that’s increasingly hard to overlook. In a conversation, he remarked that political violence is increasingly becoming normalized.

He argued that, in some cases, public sentiment seems to accept these acts of violence to a degree. “If we look at the recent assassination of insurance executive Luigi Mangione, it appears some people have even elevated him to a heroic status,” Gilliam noted.

Moreover, he expressed concern that many Americans are growing more tolerant of such violence. “People start to ponder if acts of violence are ever justified. As the violence escalates, it’s likely fewer will speak out against it,” he explained.

Gilliam emphasized that while the U.S. hasn’t reached a peak in political violence, the situation will likely worsen. “The political violence we’re witnessing today is just scratching the surface. We’re observing more targeted acts aimed at various groups, which may stifle necessary dialogue rather than foster it,” he warned.