Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) is calling on his fellow Democrats to tone down extreme political rhetoric, warning that incendiary language is contributing to a dangerous surge in political violence. His remarks come in the wake of new research showing that left-wing terrorism has reached a 30-year high.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Fetterman shared a screenshot of an Axios report titled “Study: Left-wing terrorism climbs to 30-year high”. The article highlights recent findings from the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS), which analyzed 750 domestic attacks and plots between January 1994 and July 2025.
“Unchecked extreme rhetoric, like labels as Hitler or fascist, will foment more extreme outcomes,” Fetterman warned. “Political violence is always wrong — no exceptions. We must all turn the temperature down.”
CSIS Findings: A Shift in the Threat Landscape
The CSIS study found that left-wing extremist attacks are on the rise, particularly in 2025. In just the first half of this year, there have been at least five left-wing attacks or plots, compared to only one attributed to right-wing actors.
According to their research, since 2016 left-wing extremists have carried out 41 attacks, resulting in 13 deaths. Right-wing extremists were responsible for 152 attacks, causing 112 deaths. Jihadist-inspired violence accounted for 82 deaths over the same period.
However, the methodology used in the CSIS study has come under scrutiny, particularly from critics who argue that it underrepresents the scale and impact of left-wing violence. Notably, the study counts far more right-wing attacks than left-wing ones in 2020, despite the months of widespread unrest that year following the death of George Floyd — events that were unmistakably aligned with left-wing ideologies and causes. Hundreds of incidents escalated into riots, arson, looting, and violent clashes with law enforcement. Critics argue that these events, which resulted in dozens of deaths and billions of dollars in damage, are inconsistently categorized or omitted entirely from domestic terrorism metrics if not linked to a clearly defined political motive, raising concerns that the framework may understate the extent of ideologically-driven violence on the left.
The Assassination of Charlie Kirk
His comments follow the high-profile assassination of Charlie Kirk, conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA, who was killed on September 10 during a Q&A session at Utah Valley University. Authorities later revealed that the shooter had etched anti-fascist slogans — including “Hey fascist! Catch!” — onto his rifle casings.
The attack stunned the political world and raised alarm over how frequently and loosely terms like “fascist” and “Nazi” have been thrown around. Despite the tragedy, some Democratic figures — including California Gov. Gavin Newsom — have continued to use such labels against conservative officials, such as former Trump advisor Stephen Miller.
Fetterman pushed back on this rhetoric, making clear he wants no part in such discourse.
“If you want a Democrat that’s going to call people Nazis or fascists or all these kinds of things, well, I am not going to be that guy,” he told Fox News’ Maria Bartiromo on Sunday Morning Futures. “I happen to believe the truth, regardless if it’s the Republican or the Democratic voice.”
A Democrat Who Often Breaks With His Party
Fetterman has increasingly positioned himself as an independent voice within the Democratic Party, though he insists he has no intention of switching parties. He’s broken ranks with many in his party on several key issues — most notably, the Israel-Palestine war.
Fetterman continues to be one of the most vocal Democratic supporters of Israel, recently applauding President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan and criticizing U.S. allies pushing for Palestinian statehood.
Fetterman also expressed opposition to efforts to shut down the government, calling such tactics “always wrong,” as a Sept. 30 deadline looms for Congress to pass a continuing resolution to avoid a partial federal shutdown.
The Bigger Picture
Fetterman’s remarks highlight a growing concern in American politics: that the escalation of partisan demonization is leading to real-world violence. His call for civility, especially following a deadly act of political terrorism, serves as a reminder that words have consequences.
Whether his warning will prompt a shift in tone within the Democratic Party remains to be seen. But Fetterman’s voice may prove to be an increasingly influential one as the 2026 midterm elections approach.
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