When Senator Eric Schmitt pushed back against the “both sides” narrative on political violence, he touched a nerve. Too often, pundits and politicians rush to pretend that the rise in political violence is evenly distributed across the spectrum. The reality, backed up by polling and recent current events, shows something different: the American left has become increasingly open to political violence, and in some cases, even celebratory of it.
Schmitt’s comments, captured by RealClearPolitics, cut straight to the heart of the matter. He argued that the violence we’ve seen erupt in recent years is not organic. It isn’t random. It’s not simply the actions of unhinged loners. Instead, it’s cultivated and excused by a cultural environment where universities, activists, and even some politicians turn a blind eye, or worse, openly cheer when violence is directed at their political opponents.
This isn’t just rhetoric. The numbers back him up. A recent YouGov poll taken after the tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk found that 18 percent of liberals say political violence can sometimes be justified, compared to just 7 percent of conservatives. The divide is even starker when you drill down into the most committed partisans. Among “very liberal” respondents, a full 25 percent said violence for political goals might be acceptable. That’s one in four on the activist left admitting they’re open to crossing that line. Conservatives, even at the far end, were far less likely to say the same.
The same survey found liberals more likely than conservatives to defend feeling joy at the death of a political figure they opposed. Violence, and even the celebration of violence, is supposed to be a red line in a civilized democracy. Yet more and more voices on the left treat it as just another form of resistance.
A separate poll by Morning Consult and Deseret News revealed that while the majority of Americans are deeply concerned about political violence, there’s a stark partisan split in who gets the blame. Over half of Republicans said the left is more responsible, while Democrats predictably pointed fingers at the right. But independents were more likely to split the blame or admit they weren’t sure. That confusion doesn’t mean the playing field is even. It reflects the way media coverage shapes perceptions, often downplaying or rationalizing left-wing violence while magnifying every incident on the right.
Senator Schmitt is correct to reject false equivalence. For years, Americans of all stripes have watched the double standard play out. Rioters in progressive cities torch businesses and attack police, yet they’re treated as “mostly peaceful” activists. Antifa assaults journalists, and it gets written off as an overzealous protest. Professors and teachers make excuses when their students praise violence against conservatives. But if someone on the right steps out of line, it’s treated as a national crisis, a justification for cracking down on political speech, and proof of a supposed “fascist” threat.
This double standard fuels resentment, but worse, it emboldens radicals on the left. When you normalize or excuse violence, you invite more of it. That’s why Schmitt’s warning matters. America can’t afford to shrug at violence from one side while holding the other to account. Doing so not only undermines equal justice but erodes the very norms that hold a democracy together.
Violence must be condemned no matter where it comes from. But recognizing reality isn’t partisan, it’s honest, and it helps root out causes of radicalism. Right now, the hard numbers show the left is more willing to flirt with political violence than the right. Pretending otherwise doesn’t serve the country; it only gives cover to those who would tear it apart.
Schmitt’s blunt refusal to indulge the “both sides” narrative should be a wake-up call. It’s time for leaders, the press, and everyday Americans to stop making excuses for left-wing violence. If we want to preserve a peaceful society, the first step is to face the uncomfortable truth about where the danger is coming from.