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CSIS Finding of Left-Wing Attacks Leading Early 2025 Spurs White House Crackdown and Backlash

Researchers stress the short‑term shift should not be a pretext for crackdowns.

Overview

  • CSIS logged five left‑wing plots or attacks versus one from the far right between Jan. 1 and July 4, 2025, within a 750‑case dataset dating to 1994 that still shows far‑right violence as more frequent and deadlier overall.
  • President Trump designated Antifa a domestic terrorist organization and issued NSPM‑7 to prioritize investigations into left‑leaning networks, tasking JTTFs and tax authorities to scrutinize funding streams.
  • Axios corrected an initial headline after criticism, clarifying the study shows left‑wing incidents outpacing right‑wing incidents so far this year rather than reaching a 30‑year high.
  • Civil‑liberties advocates and commentators warned the directive and executive order sweep in protected speech and could chill lawful activism, even as supporters argue a tougher posture is warranted.
  • The Times notes an alleged anti‑ICE attack in Texas counted in the CSIS tally and that high‑profile incidents like Charlie Kirk’s September killing fall outside the study window, complicating public interpretation.