Rising Political Violence and Terrorism in the US Spark Concerns for 2026
As 2026 begins, the United States faces a surge in political violence and acts of terrorism, with a former FBI agent warning that this trend has just started
. This spike in violence coincides with an alarming rise in ideologically-driven attacks, a notable increase in assaults against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, and an unprecedented assassination of a high-profile conservative influencer. These events have elevated concerns over the potential for further escalation in the coming year.
Context of Rising Violence
Political violence reached a new peak in 2025, exemplified by the assassination of Turning Point USA founder, Charlie Kirk, on September 10. This event, described by officials as a political assassination,
highlighted the growing threat of ideologically-driven attacks. Further fueling these concerns, the Department of Homeland Security reported a staggering 1,150% increase in assaults and violent attacks against ICE officers in 2025 compared to the same period the previous year.
Recent Developments
The rise in political violence has been coupled with a series of planned terrorist attacks. An 18-year-old North Carolina man, allegedly radicalized online, was arrested for planning a New Year’s Eve attack in a Charlotte suburb. According to the FBI, the man pledged loyalty to the Islamic State group and was plotting a knife-and-hammer attack.
Reactions and Implications
The surge in violence has sparked a political response, with a new generation of political leaders, most of them Democrats, using their personal experience with gun violence to push for reforms. Gun violence prevention, once a rarely spoken issue, is now a cornerstone of many campaigns.
Meanwhile, the Muslim community has expressed concerns over the misuse of the term 'terrorism'. Edward Ahmed Mitchell, the deputy director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, warned that the steps taken by Republican governors to declare his organization a terrorist organization
won’t stop with the Muslim community and could potentially threaten any organization.
Global Context and Implications
Internationally, the rise in violence in the US mirrors a similar trend in Pakistan, where there was a 34% year-on-year surge in violence linked to terrorism and counter-terrorism in 2025. Conversely, Iran has vowed a swift and harsh response to any act of aggression following renewed military threats from the US and Israel.
The escalating political violence, both domestically and globally, is expected to shape the political landscape and policy decisions in 2026.
Conclusion
As 2026 begins, the United States faces a rise in political violence and acts of terrorism. The implications of this trend, both domestically and globally, have prompted calls for urgent reforms and raised concerns about potential escalations in the coming year. The situation remains a critical concern for government and law enforcement agencies, as well as the general public.