The study identified immigration as a central issue in 2025, highlighted by a violent incident at an ICE detention facility in Dallas, where a gunman shot three detainees before taking his own life. President Trump blamed the attack on what he called dangerous rhetoric from “radical left Democrats,” suggesting such language incited violence.

The study’s authors stressed that while political leaders aren’t directly accountable for extremists, they are responsible for how they address extremism. Both Republicans and Democrats were urged to denounce violence within their own ranks and to promote calm when discussing their political opponents.

Despite this call for restraint, some Democratic figures have continued to use inflammatory language, accusing Trump administration officials and Republicans of being “Nazis,” “fascists,” and “threats to democracy.” This hostile discourse was noted as a factor contributing to a volatile political climate.

The alleged Dallas shooter, Joshua Jahn, left behind handwritten notes accusing ICE agents of “human trafficking.” This echoes statements from several Democratic lawmakers. For example, in June, Rep. Maxwell Frost accused ICE of “kidnapping people” and “human trafficking,” echoing the same controversial framing used by the shooter.

In July, despite private appeals from the White House to moderate their language, some Democrats persisted. California Governor Gavin Newsom, seen as a likely 2028 presidential candidate, described ICE as a “private domestic army” on national television, linking it to authoritarianism under Trump.

Other Democrats followed suit. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz compared ICE to a “modern-day Gestapo,” and Rep. Rashida Tlaib labeled Trump’s D.C. crime policies as a “fascist takeover.” During the 2024 campaign, then–Vice President Kamala Harris openly referred to Trump as a “fascist,” reinforcing the extreme language that the study warns could further inflame tensions.