The rise of political violence under Trump | Donald Trump
Political Violence in the U.S.: An Increasing Concern
By [Author’s Name]
Published May 2, 2026
Redi Tlhabi engaged in a critical discussion with Professor Robert Pape regarding the escalating issue of political violence in the United States. The conversation follows recent incidents, notably the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner and the reported third attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump.
Last year witnessed a troubling rise in politically motivated violence, including high-profile assassinations such as those of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk and Democratic state legislator Melissa Hortman. These events have led many to question the underlying causes fueling this surge in violence.
Professor Pape, a political science expert at the University of Chicago and author of the forthcoming book Our Own Worst Enemies: America in the Age of Violent Populism, offered insights into how the heightened divisiveness in American politics may be contributing to this alarming trend.
For more on the implications of these developments and the role of political rhetoric, viewers can tune into this week’s episode of UpFront, where Tlhabi continues the conversation with Pape.
