Secretary of State Marco Rubio argued Friday that politically motivated violence from the far left remains an underrecognized security threat, saying governments and the public should treat such attacks with the same seriousness as other forms of terrorism.
Speaking at a conference focused on political terrorism, Rubio said extremist violence from the political left has often received different treatment from the media and academic institutions than violence committed by other ideological groups. A transcript of his remarks was later published by the State Department.
Rubio contrasted public reactions to attacks carried out by different political movements, arguing that violence committed by neo-Nazi organizations is universally condemned while attacks carried out in the name of left-wing causes are, in his view, more likely to be minimized or portrayed as misguided attempts to achieve otherwise legitimate goals.
He said this difference in perception has contributed to a broader reluctance to acknowledge the threat posed by left-wing political violence.
Reflecting on the nationwide unrest that followed George Floyd’s death in 2020, Rubio argued that acts of violence associated with those demonstrations were frequently excused rather than condemned. He contended that political motivations should not lessen the seriousness of criminal acts or terrorism.
SECRETARY RUBIO: “This is a distinctive and unique evil. It has always been driven by a hatred, above all else, for civilization itself.” pic.twitter.com/3t75pzaSRE
— Department of State (@StateDept) July 16, 2026
Rubio also argued that far-left political violence has a lengthy historical record. Citing historical data, he said that between 1970 and 1980, 93 percent of terrorist attacks in Western countries were attributed to far-left extremist groups. He presented that period as evidence that ideological violence from the left has long been a significant security concern rather than a recent political talking point.
Turning to current events, Rubio said the United States is confronting what he described as a renewed wave of politically motivated violence. He referenced multiple assassination attempts against President Donald Trump and the killing of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, describing those incidents as examples of a broader pattern of ideological extremism.
Rubio characterized radical leftism as a destructive ideology driven by resentment rather than a desire to build or improve society. He argued that its adherents seek to dismantle institutions and traditions instead of creating lasting alternatives, describing such movements as fundamentally hostile to civilization.
Today, I convened leaders from around the world for a ministerial meeting on the resurgence of political terrorism—driven by a rising tide of violent left-wing extremism. Together, we must rebuild our counterterrorism architecture to defeat the new wave of this old evil. pic.twitter.com/SfIMKk84hs
— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) July 16, 2026
The secretary also criticized communism, rejecting the common argument that it is appealing in theory but flawed in practice. Instead, Rubio argued that the ideology itself envisions a society stripped of individual achievement, religious faith, ambition, and exceptional accomplishment. He said such a system leaves little room for personal freedom, creativity, or heroism.
Rubio warned that modern extremist organizations increasingly operate across national borders. He said today’s terrorist networks can raise funds in one country, communicate through servers in another, receive training elsewhere, recruit internationally, and ultimately carry out attacks in different jurisdictions. Because of that, he argued, international cooperation is essential to preventing future acts of political violence.
He concluded by urging democratic nations to work together against extremist movements, arguing that those intent on destroying institutions can exploit divisions between governments if cooperation is lacking.
