Image: from “Trump Posts Image of Joe Biden Kidnapped and Bound With Rope.”

This page is part of a resource collection on far right extremism. See also the resource pages on The January 6 Capitol Insurrection and on the mainstreaming of political violence.

Political Violence in the Second Trump Administration

February 19.   Gabriel Sherman: “They’re Scared Shitless”: The Threat of Political Violence Informing Trump’s Grip on Congress.

March 25.   Ellie Silverman: Trump administration cuts national database tracking domestic terrorism.

The Escalation of Political Violence During the First Trump Administration & Reelection Campaigns

Isaac Arnsdorf:

• Trump suggests in Carlson interview that U.S. could see more political violence: The former president also again defended the mob of his supporters that attacked the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
• Trump stokes suspicions about assassination attempt, raising fears of more violence: After an initial period of relative restraint, the former president has begun blaming the shooting on his opponents and amplifying conspiracy theories.

Jennifer Bendery: Colorado Secretary Of State ‘Extremely Concerned’ About Pro-Trump Violence: Jena Griswold received 64 death threats and more than 900 threats of abuse within three weeks of the case being filed to keep Trump off the state ballot.

Ruth Ben-Ghiat & Norman Eisen: Context only makes Trump’s ‘bloodbath’ comment worse: Authoritarians know that to get people to overcome taboos about committing violence.

Philip Bump: In Waco, Trump stokes anger and valorizes violent actors.

CNN: Federal judge delivers rare response after Trump attacks the daughter of a judge.

Ruby Cramer: Trump is ‘fascist to the core,’ Milley says in Woodward book: The former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff says Trump is “the most dangerous person to this country,” echoing dire warnings of others in national security circles.

Paul Farhi: Trump’s violent rhetoric is getting muted coverage by the news media.

Mark Follman: JD Vance Reiterates False Claim That Democrats “Tried to Kill” Trump: The VP candidate and other Trump allies keep pushing a narrative that threat assessment experts say will fuel violence.

Jordan Green: How Trump ally Michael Flynn is priming supporters for violence ahead of the election.

George Lakoff & Gil Duran: Donald Trump and the language of violence: No one has done more to frame American politics in violent terms.

Mike Levine: ‘No Blame?’ ABC News finds 54 cases invoking ‘Trump’ in connection with violence, threats, alleged assaults.

PBS: Trump conspiracies inspire threats against judges, jurors and election workers.

Christopher Mathias: Trump’s Campaign Rhetoric Is ‘Fascist.’ It Will Inspire More Violence. According to experts, the GOP presidential nominee is instilling a dangerous level of fear in his followers, setting himself up as their savior. Their only hope.

Reuters: Trump blasts his trial judges. Then his fans call for violence.

J.D. Wolf: Trump Posts Image of Joe Biden Kidnapped And Bound With Rope: Trump signals approval of violent imagery targeting his political opponents.