Senator Schmitt Leads Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing on Politically Motivated Violence

‘Either we confront political violence and destroy it, or it will destroy us’

WASHINGTON — Today, during a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee hearing on politically motivated violence, Chairman Eric Schmitt (R-MO) strongly denounced the disturbing rise in politically motivated violence. These attacks, which predominately come from the left, are antithetical to American ideals, disturb our fundamental right to free expression, and represent a grave threat to our constitutional order. The hearing, titled Politically Violent Attacks: A Threat to Our Constitutional Order, comes in the aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s tragic assassination, the two attempts on President Trump’s life, Antifa street violence, and countless other incidents.

Watch Senator Schmitt’s opening remarks HERE

Read excerpts from Senator Schmitt’s opening remarks, as prepared for delivery:

For the past 15 months, political violence has been a constant fact of American life. We have seen arsons and bombings, armed ambushes and assaults, sniper attacks and mass shootings, riots and violent mobs on our city streets. We have seen assassinations. We have seen murder. We have seen death.

None of this is random. It is organized, coordinated political terror. The people behind this violence are not common street criminals. They are not driven by money, or drugs, or gangland turf disputes. They are determined, militant extremists who wield violence for political ends.

They know that their vision could never win at the ballot box, so they have chosen terrorism instead. They know their ideas could not win in the marketplace of ideas, so they shoot up the marketplace.

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To these people and this movement, the only acceptable goal is the destruction of the system and its leaders. The central idea of every revolutionary project is that utopia must be achieved through any means necessary.

If you truly believe that Charlie Kirk is an existential threat to your safety — and you’ve bought into the nonsense that “words are violence” — then silencing him by any means could be seen as necessary.

If you truly believe mass migration is an inalienable right, then opening the floodgates to uncontrolled immigration, tearing down the border, and attacking those who defend it might look like justice.

If you truly believe that America was conceived in murder and built on stolen land, then you will feel no moral obligation to respect and obey its laws.

If you truly believe the police are the armed enforcers of racist oppression, who indiscriminately murder innocent victims in the streets, then you might see violence against an officer as an act of brave resistance.

When Charlie Kirk was murdered, one of his killer’s bullets was engraved with the message “Hey fascist, catch.”

But who taught him that Charlie Kirk was a fascist? Who convinced him that Charlie’s “hate” made his murder a righteous act? Who told him, over and over again, that people who believe what Charlie believed are threats to “our democracy”?

He did not invent that worldview. He learned it — as did each and every one of the arsonists, assassins, and militants who came before him. Perhaps the people in power who said these things didn’t really believe them. But clearly, some of the people who listened to them did. And now, they are taking those ideas to their final, logical conclusion.

Enough.

We are faced with only two paths. Either we confront this political violence and end it, or it will end us.

Senator Schmitt questioned Michael Knowles about the need to maintain a ‘free market’ place of ideas free of political violence. Watch the full exchange HERE.

Senator Schmitt questioned Chad Wolf about coordinated Antifa violence. Watch the full exchange HERE.

Senator Schmitt questioned Kyle Shideler about the need to designate Antifa as a ‘Foreign Terrorist Organization’. Watch the full exchange HERE.

Background:

• In October 2025, Senator Schmitt sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging his Department to designate Antifa as a ‘Foreign Terrorist Organization’
• In October 2025, Senator Schmitt sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi calling on the Department of Justice to investigate left-wing political violence.
  • The letter follows AG Bondi’s earlier commitment to Senator Schmitt when asked about launching a probe.
• In September 2025, Senator Schmitt strongly denounced political violence during a Senate Judiciary oversight hearing with FBI Director Kash Patel.

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