The Democratic Party in disarray over the rise in violence on the left

As the Democratic Party remains leaderless and struggles to adjust to President Donald Trump’s second administration, there appears to be a growing trend of violence coming from the left.

From Charlie Kirk’s assassination to violent anti-ICE protests to controversial deportees’ advocacy to extreme rhetoric, the party’s fragmented response to Trump’s agenda has drawn attention not only from the right, but also from within its own ranks.

1. Charlie Kirk Assassination

The nation was rocked by the sudden murder of her 31-year-old husband, father and conservative activist, Charlie Kirk, on September 10. Video of the shooting circulated widely online minutes after Kirk was shot in the neck while speaking at a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University.

Within 33 hours, Kirk’s alleged killer, Tyler Robinson, was arrested on charges of aggravated murder, obstruction and witness tampering. According to court documents, Robinson texted his transgender roommate and relative after the shooting, writing, “I’m sick of his hatred. Some hatreds can’t be negotiated.”

WATCH: LAWMAKERS STRUGGLE OVER HOW TO APPROACH HATE POLITICAL RHETORIC FOLLOWING KIRK’S ASSASSINATION

Charlie Kirk speaks before being murdered during the Turning Point tour at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, Wednesday, September 10, 2025. (Tess Crowley/The Deseret News via AP)

Although Kirk was mourned by many, including Trump and other high-ranking politicians, he was also widely mocked by many leftists, some of whom claimed he got it.

Public school teachers, professors, politicians, artists and others have gone viral, sometimes finding themselves in hot water, for mocking or even celebrating Kirk’s death, sparking national concern over the pervasive violent rhetoric and sentiments on the left.

2. The Jay Jones “two bullets” scandal

In this already tense political climate, Democratic nominee for Virginia attorney general, Jay Jones, faced scrutiny for text messages he sent to a colleague saying he wanted to shoot Todd Gilbert, then Speaker of the Virginia House, a Republican.

In text messages with another deputy, Jones wrote: “Three people, two bullets. Gilbert, Hitler and Pol Pot. Gilbert gets shot twice in the head.”

Jones wrote in a later text: “Spoiler: put Gilbert on the crew with the two worst people you know and he gets both bullets every time.”

The killing of Charlie Kirk highlights the rise of left-wing terror as a study shows violence is at its highest level in 30 years.

Jay Jones, a candidate for Virginia attorney general in 2025, has come under fire for a series of text messages calling for the deaths of political opponents and remarks about police officers. (Maxine Wallace/The Washington Post/Getty Images)

In another text exchange with a co-worker, Jones said he hoped Gilbert’s children died. He doubled down on his efforts in a series of messages, saying such heartbreak could be “a good thing” if he moved his policies forward.

Although the text’s revelations shocked the public and upended the Virginia election, many Democrats interviewed by Fox News Digital declined to address the scandal or say whether they thought Jones should be disqualified from the race.

Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger condemned the rhetoric in the messages; however, she repeatedly refused to rescind her support for Jones.

Virginia’s two Democratic senators, Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, also refused to withdraw their support for Jones.

3. Anti-ICE shooting in Dallas

After months of Democratic politicians condemning federal immigration enforcement agents as racist and using “Gestapo tactics,” a 29-year-old man named Joshua Jahn opened fire at an ICE facility as agents were transferring detainees on September 24.

Jahn fired indiscriminately into the ICE building, killing one and wounding two others. He committed suicide and was later found with a rifle and cartridges with the message “anti-ICE” written on them.

THE Dallas Observer reported that authorities found notes at Jahn’s home in which he referred to ICE agents as “people showing up to collect a dirty paycheck” and that he intended to “maximize lethality” against ICE personnel.

AFTER KIRK ASSASSINATION, LEGISLATORS RESPOND TO DEAD POLITICAL CLIMATE: “VIOLENT WORDS PRECEED VIOLENT ACTIONS”

Federal agents confront protesters outside the ICE detention center in suburban Chicago. (Dominic Gwinn/Getty Images)

4. Kilmar Abrego Garcia

Democrats also raised eyebrows for their continued support of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an illegal Salvadoran and alleged MS-13 gang member on trial for human trafficking and conspiracy.

For months, Democrats have ridiculed the Trump administration for deporting Abrego Garcia to a high-security prison in his home country. Abrego Garcia’s return to the United States has become a major cause for the Democratic Party.

Sen. Chris Van Hollen, Democrat of Maryland, was the first of several Democratic lawmakers to travel to El Salvador to visit Abrego Garcia this year. Another Maryland Democrat, Rep. Glenn Ivey, who also traveled to El Salvador to defend Abrego Garcia, used his X account to promote an event aimed at continuing the “critical conversation about fighting for the return of those unjustly imprisoned in El Salvador.”

And Maryland Governor Wes Moore celebrated the news of Abrego Garcia’s return, telling Fox News Digital: “I want to thank our federal delegation for their efforts to ensure our government adheres to the rule of law.”

Abrego Garcia is accused of being a member of the violent Salvadoran MS-13 gang. According to court records filed by his wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura, he also physically assaulted her on several occasions.

5. Supporters of Luigi Mangioni call for more assassinations

The month before Trump returned to the Oval Office, 26-year-old former Ivy Leaguer Luigi Mangione allegedly murdered Brian Thompson, a married father of two and CEO of United Healthcare, by shooting him in the back in front of a shareholder conference.

CHARLIE KIRK WARNED ‘MURDERING CULTURE IS SPREADING TO THE LEFT’ IN STRANGE ONLINE PUBLIC MONTHS BEFORE MURDER

Luigi Mangione, suspect in the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York, arrives at a heliport with members of the New York Police Department on December 19, 2024 in New York. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

The killing drew a surprising amount of praise from people online, particularly from those on the left, some of whom justified it by claiming that Thompson oversaw a corrupt system that denied people health care.

Lionel McGloin, a comedian and journalist, spoke with pro-Mangione voices Feb. 21 in State Supreme Court in Manhattan, where the UnitedHealthcare CEO’s alleged killer sat for a preliminary hearing. A woman who admitted to having “Luigi fever” told McGloin that Elon Musk should also be killed.

“I hope her Luigi is somewhere,” the woman said.

One protester said only “corrupt” healthcare system leaders should be “undead,” while another said Mangione “did what needed to be done.”

“Was what he did right?” McGloin asked another protester.

“Actually, it’s great,” the young woman said. “I think we should do more.”

6. John Brown Shooting Club

In September, a left-wing group at Georgetown University, the John Brown Gun Club, sparked concern over flyers distributed on campus celebrating Kirk’s death with the message “Hey Fascist! Catch!” The same sentence was allegedly written on a shell casing belonging to Robinson.

EXPERTS WARN LEFT CELEBRATIONS OF CHARLIE KIRK’S DEATH SIGNAL DANGEROUS POLITICAL CHANGE

Teslas on fire, left, and protesters in West Philadelphia in the summer of 2020. (Hal Sparks via Storyful; Gabriella Audi via AFP)

Advertisements billed the club as the “only political group that celebrates the death of the Nazis.”

Its QR code linked to a page that said: “We are building a community that is done with ceremonial resistance and forcefully worded letters. If you want to make real change in your community, let us know below.”

A second wave of posters plastered across campus showed Kirk’s face with blackened eyes next to the words “Follow your leader” and “Rest the f—, Charlie.”

7. Vandalism with Tesla

Earlier this year, few Democrats were willing to denounce vandalism at Tesla showrooms, charging stations and vehicles, even though Attorney General Pam Bondi called the attacks “domestic terrorism,” an issue Democrats have been speaking out against for years.

What began as protests against Musk and his leadership at the Department of Government Effectiveness (DOGE) escalated into violent incidents, including shots fired at a building, windows smashed at a dealership, and charging stations set on fire.

In an interview with Fox News’ Bret Baier on “Special Report” in March, Musk blamed anti-DOGE rhetoric from Democratic leaders for the rise in violence against his company.

Sen. John Fetterman, a Pennsylvania Democrat who has gained a reputation for opposing his party on key issues like immigration and support for Israel, criticized Democrats for suddenly backing Musk amid the billionaire’s spat with Trump on social media.

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“The Democrats, we’ve been throwing ourselves all over Musk and vandalizing Teslas or whatever, and now all of a sudden we might be more attracted to him again,” Fetterman said, denouncing the Democrats’ inconsistency.