ESCALATORS, EULOGIES, AND ECHO CHAMBERS
THE RISE OF POLITICAL VIOLENCE AND THE RHETORIC THAT FUELS IT
On the morning of September 12, 2025, President Donald Trump took to the Fox News to address MAGA nation about the shocking assassination of conservative firebrand Charlie Kirk. With characteristic bombast, he pinned the blame squarely on the “lunatic left,” decrying their rhetoric as the spark for this heinous act. Yet, in a twist as predictable as a reality TV cliffhanger, Trump sidestepped any introspection about his own role in the rising tide of political violence and hate speech that has gripped the United States. The irony is thicker than a MAGA rally crowd: no modern president has done more to fan the flames of division than Trump himself, a man who descended a golden escalator in 2015 and hasn’t stopped stirring the pot since.
The Rhetoric That Roars
From the moment Trump launched his first presidential campaign, his rhetoric was a Molotov cocktail lobbed into the public square. “When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best,” he declared, labeling immigrants as “rapists” and “murderers.” It was a verbal grenade, one that set the tone for a political career built on demonizing the “other”—be it immigrants, minorities, journalists, or political opponents. Over the years, his speeches have grown increasingly laced with violent imagery, with studies showing his use of violent vocabulary rising from 0.6% in 2016 to 1.6% in 2024, outpacing other democratic leaders and cozying up to the rhetorical style of authoritarians.
This isn’t just spicy wordplay; it’s a playbook. Trump’s language—calling for “bloodbaths” if elections don’t go his way, suggesting protesters deserve rough treatment, or branding opponents as “enemies within”—creates a climate where violence feels not just possible but permissible. The concept of “stochastic terrorism” comes into play here: dehumanizing rhetoric that doesn’t explicitly call for violence but increases the odds that a lone actor will take matters into their own hands. The assassination of Charlie Kirk, a figure who himself thrived on divisive rhetoric, is a grim case study. Experts warn that such acts are less about organized movements and more about individuals radicalized in the echo chambers of online hate, where Trump’s words reverberate like a war drum.
The Ripple Effect: From Words to Weapons
The data paints a stark picture. Hate crimes in the U.S. have more than doubled over the past decade, climbing from 5,843 in 2015 to 11,679 in 2024. Race-based crimes, particularly against Black Americans, remain the most common, but anti-Jewish, anti-LGBTQ+, and anti-transgender incidents are surging. High-profile attacks—like the 2015 Charleston church shooting, the 2019 El Paso Walmart massacre, and the 2022 Colorado Springs nightclub attack—have been directly linked to online hate speech, the kind Trump’s rhetoric amplifies. His words don’t pull the trigger, but they load the gun.
The January 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection remains the most glaring example of Trump’s rhetoric turning into real-world violence. His calls for supporters to “fight like hell” and show “strength” preceded a mob storming the Capitol, leaving death and destruction in its wake. Yet, Trump’s response to such events is a masterclass in selective outrage. In condemning Kirk’s assassination, he pointed fingers at the left while ignoring the far-right extremism his own words have emboldened. The Proud Boys, who’ve acted as unofficial enforcers of MAGA ideology, have been linked to violent incidents, including January 6, with Trump’s tacit approval (“stand back and stand by”).
A Mirror for All Sides
To be fair, political violence isn’t a one-sided affair. Threats against elected officials, both Republican and Democrat, are rising, fueled by deep partisan divides and media narratives that thrive on outrage. The left isn’t immune to inflammatory rhetoric either—some progressive voices have flirted with justifying violence against perceived oppressors. But mainstream left-wing figures typically condemn such acts, while Trump’s track record shows a consistent refusal to disavow far-right extremism. His selective condemnation of violence, like his response to Kirk’s death, only deepens the divide.
The broader issue is that we’ve all been sucked into a vortex where hate speech is normalized, and violence is just a tweet away. Online platforms, with their unregulated algorithms, act as accelerants, turning grievances into manifestos and lone actors into killers. The U.S. checks every box for a society ripe for political violence: declining democratic norms, societal divisions, easy access to guns, and leaders who glorify conflict over compromise.
Breaking the Cycle
Leaders across the spectrum must condemn violence unequivocally, not just when it suits their narrative. Regulating online platforms to curb extremist content, investing in mental health to address individual radicalization, and tightening gun laws could help douse the flames. But the real work starts with us—listening to views we disagree with, rejecting the temptation to demonize, and rebuilding faith in a political system that feels broken.
As political scientist Robert Pape noted, correcting exaggerated beliefs about our opponents’ support for violence can de-escalate tensions. Most Americans, left or right, don’t want a civil war. They want a country where ideas clash, not fists or bullets. The assassination of Charlie Kirk is a tragic reminder of what’s at stake. If we keep riding this escalator of hate, we’re all headed for a fall. Let’s step off, take a breath, and start talking like neighbors again.
As Political Violence Rises, Trump Condemns One Side - The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/11/us/politics/political-violence-trump-blame.html A Brief History of Trump’s Violent Remarks - The Atlantic https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/10/trump-violent-rhetoric-timeline/680403/ Donald Trump: Aggressive Rhetoric and Political Violence | Perspectives on Terrorism https://pt.icct.nl/article/donald-trump-aggressive-rhetoric-and-political-violence We analyzed 9 years of Trump political speeches, and his violent rhetoric has increased dramatically https://theconversation.com/we-analyzed-9-years-of-trump-political-speeches-and-his-violent-rhetoric-has-increased-dramatically-238962 violent rhetoric | PBS News https://www.pbs.org/newshour/tag/violent-rhetoric 10 Political Violence Experts on What Comes Next for America - POLITICO https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2025/09/12/charlie-kirk-political-violence-expert-analysis-00558638 MAGA's Push for Political Violence | Indivisible https://indivisible.org/resource/magas-push-political-violence
