The murder of prominent Trump ally Charlie Kirk at a Utah college campus has intensified concerns about rising political violence in the United States, with experts warning that the current era may be more dangerous than the turbulent 1960s.
According to data from the University of Maryland's Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START), the first six months of 2025 saw over 520 plots and acts of terrorism and targeted violence, a nearly 40% increase from the same period in 2024. Mass casualty attacks rose by 187.5%, with 96 deaths and 329 injuries reported across nearly all US states.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox described the killing as a potential watershed moment. 'The question is, what kind of watershed?' he said at a press conference. 'Is this the end of a dark chapter in our history or the beginning of a darker chapter?'
Experts point to two key factors making the current climate more dangerous than the 1960s: social media and the widespread availability of lethal weapons. Amy Pate of START noted that online conspiracy theories accelerate radicalisation, leaving less time for intervention. William Braniff of American University added that fragmented media ecosystems and algorithms prioritising polarisation feed 'righteous anger' toward other communities.
Of the 2025 terrorist incidents, 35% targeted government entities, up from 15% in 2024. Attacks spanned ideologies, including antisemitism, immigration enforcement, LGBTQ+ and Muslim communities, and lawmakers from both parties. While far-right violence has historically dominated, researchers note that today's actors are more ideologically diffuse, often not adhering to a single ideology.
