Former FBI Agent: Political Violence ‘Just Started’

Former FBI agent Jonathan Gilliam delivers a chilling warning: political violence in America has not peaked but has “just started,” with a dramatic escalation predicted for 2026. Reviewing a deadly pattern of ideologically-driven attacks throughout 2025—including the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and an unprecedented spike in assaults on ICE officers—Gilliam argues that left-wing extremists are shifting their focus from political elites to ordinary conservative citizens, a fundamental and terrifying threat to constitutional freedoms and the stability of the nation.

Story Highlights

Former FBI agent predicts 2026 will bring worse political violence than the assassination of Charlie Kirk and attacks on ICE officers
DHS reports shocking 1,150% increase in assaults on ICE agents during 2025, signaling coordinated targeting of law enforcement
Left-wing extremists shift from targeting political elites to ordinary conservative citizens, normalizing violence against Patriots
Online radicalization fuels assassinations and shootings, with perpetrators celebrating killers like Luigi Mangione as heroes

FBI Warning Signals Dangerous Escalation

Former FBI agent Jonathan Gilliam delivered a stark warning that political violence has “just started” and will intensify in 2026. Gilliam identified a disturbing pattern where left-wing extremists increasingly target conservatives, law enforcement, and ordinary citizens who promote dialogue. His assessment comes after reviewing multiple high-profile attacks throughout 2025, including the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk and coordinated assaults on immigration enforcement officers.

The violence represents a fundamental shift from historical political assassinations that targeted national leaders like the Kennedys or Ronald Reagan. Today’s attacks deliberately focus on conservative activists, immigration officers, and citizens whose only crime is expressing traditional American values. This targeting undermines the First Amendment and creates a chilling effect on conservative speech across the nation.

Former FBI Agent Says Political Violence Has ‘Just Started’ as We Head Into 2026 https://t.co/xn6b3iGYDM

— The Gateway Pundit (@gatewaypundit) January 3, 2026

ICE Officers Face Unprecedented Violence

Department of Homeland Security data reveals a staggering 1,150% increase in assaults on ICE officers during 2025, demonstrating organized hostility toward immigration enforcement. Joshua Jahn exemplified this trend when he shot at a Dallas ICE facility in September 2025, killing one detainee and leaving behind anti-ICE terror notes. Jahn had tracked federal agents using smartphone applications, showing premeditated planning to harm those enforcing immigration law.

This spike in violence against ICE represents an assault on constitutional governance and the rule of law. Immigration enforcement officers risk their lives protecting American sovereignty, yet face increasing danger from radicalized individuals who view border security as illegitimate. The attacks directly undermine Trump’s immigration policies and threaten national security operations essential for protecting American citizens.

Former FBI Agent Says Political Violence Has ‘Just Started’ as We Head Into 2026

Charlie Kirk Assassination Marks Deadly Turn

Tyler Robinson’s September 10, 2025 assassination of Charlie Kirk on a Utah campus marked a deadly escalation in political violence targeting conservative voices. Robinson confessed online to murdering Kirk, whom he described as hating for his conservative views and campus activism. The assassination eliminated a prominent advocate for conservative youth engagement and sent a terrorizing message to other Patriots promoting traditional values.

Former FBI SWAT team member Greg Rogers noted this represents a new pattern where ordinary citizens face assassination for their political beliefs. Kirk, a father of two who founded Turning Point USA, dedicated his life to educating young Americans about conservative principles. His murder demonstrates how left-wing extremists now target anyone effectively promoting constitutional values and limited government.

The normalization of violence extends beyond individual attacks to cultural celebration of killers like Luigi Mangione, who murdered UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Public support for Mangione’s actions signals dangerous acceptance of political assassination as legitimate protest. This mentality threatens the peaceful transfer of power and constitutional processes that distinguish America from failed states plagued by political violence.