Some Stats for Your MAGA Uncle

There has been a great deal of blame coming from Donald Trump and his band of liars about how political violence is the fault of the “radical left” and he plans to use it as justification to crack down on left leaning groups and individuals, such as the nebulous antifa, which is not a group at all.

However, the facts paint a very different picture.  Since facts don’t seem to matter to Trump ever, I thought I’d pass this information on to you so that you can use it when talking to your MAGA uncle who swallows whatever Trump says without question.

The following table includes statistics from the Center for Stategic International Studies (CSIS).  The CSIS is an American think tank based in Washington, D.C.  The center conducts policy studies and strategic analyses of political, economic and security issues throughout the world, with a focus on issues concerning international relations, trade, technology, finance, energy and geostrategy.  It has been labeled a "centrist" think tank by U.S. News & World Report.

Number of Political Attacks 2016-2025*

Group / # of Attacks

Right / 152

Jihadist / 25

Left / 35

Ethnonationalist / 10                                   

Other / 8      

*Data for 2025 runs through July 4, 2025

Source: Data compiled by CSIS Warfare, Irregular Threats, and Terrorism Program.

This table clearly shows that from 2016, when Trump was first elected, the right has been way out in front of political violence.  And prior to 2016, the differences were even more striking.  Here, from 2016 to 2025 political violence is almost five times more likely from the right as it is from the left.

And yet, following the murder of Charlie Kirk, all you hear is that the left is to blame for everything.  This is clearly a lie.

In fact, Trump, JD Vance, Stephen Miller and others have blamed the left and Democrats for all of the political violence.  You know as well as I that these individuals are well aware of these statistics, making their claims complete fabrications and cynically ingenuous. 

Let’s look at some of the comments from these politicians.

Trump said, “Bad things happen when they [the left] play these games… The right is a lot tougher than the left. But the right’s not doing this. And they better not get them energized, because it won’t be good for the left…It’ll be a point where other people won’t take it anymore, and that will not be good for the radical left.”

Vance said this in early September 2025, insisting that political violence in the U.S. is overwhelmingly caused by Democrats and the left. “It is primarily on one side of the political aisle…If we are going to truly go after the political violence in this country, we need the Democratic leadership of Washington, D.C., to look in the mirror.”

But some of the vilest lies have spewed from the mouth of Stephen Miller.  Miller called the left a “domestic terrorism movement” and suggested using RICO and conspiracy charges to prosecute unnamed groups.

The way these men have been framing violence omits recent attacks on Democrats, such as the June shooting of Minnesota lawmakers Melissa Hortman and John Hoffman and their spouses as well as the attempted attack on the home of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and the hammer attack on Paul Pelosi, none of which Trump did not publicly condemn.

If they are lying and they know they’re lying, what is the end game here?

What they do by calling names like “domestic terrorists” and “radical left” is to dehumanize Democrats and liberals.  Historically, dictators have used this tactic to attack those groups.  It’s much easier for people to accept treating people as less than human if the propaganda network keeps reminding people they are.

Selective blame undermines efforts to address political violence comprehensively.  Ignoring right-wing extremism allows dangerous actors to operate with less scrutiny.  Inflammatory rhetoric from high-ranking officials like Miller and Vance can escalate tensions and normalize retaliation.

Legal experts and commentators warned that Trump’s language amounts to incitement and could provoke retaliatory violence.  But it always has.

Trump is a tyrant leading a band of tyrants who want to eliminate opposition.   Their problem is that facts get in the way and freedom of speech allows those facts to get out.  

So, on Thanksgiving when MAGA Uncle Bob starts complaining about political violence on the left i, pull out this table and show him the facts.  I bet it will tongue tie him or, at least, make him change the subject. 

🇺🇸