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White nationalist violence is the most persistent and deadly domestic threat in the United States—yet our government continues to overlook it. This page outlines the scale of the threat, the policy double standards that enable it, and what Emgage Action is doing to fight back.
The FBI has made it clear: white nationalist violence is not just a threat—it is the most persistent and lethal domestic threat facing the United States today.
In its most recent update on domestic terrorism (FBI, Feb 2024), the Bureau explicitly warned that racially or ethnically motivated violent extremists—especially those who promote white supremacy—pose “a continued and serious danger to public safety.” These groups are not isolated actors. They’re part of a growing movement spreading disinformation, coordinating online, and preparing for violence.
Yet despite this data, our government continues to under-resource the fight against white nationalist extremism—focusing instead on Muslim, Black, and immigrant communities.
White nationalist groups are watching—and they know exactly who has their back.
In his first term, Donald Trump refused to condemn white nationalists, infamously calling them “very fine people” after the deadly Charlottesville rally. He deflected blame after mass shootings targeting Black and Latino communities. He emboldened militias and extremists with tweets like “Stand back and stand by.”
Now, with Trump back in power, the danger has only grown. These groups feel protected, vindicated, and mobilized. The white nationalist movement sees this administration as an opportunity to push its agenda through intimidation, violence, and policy.
We are entering a new era of domestic extremism—one where the lines between mainstream politics and white nationalist rhetoric are dangerously blurred.
Here’s the truth: not a single white nationalist group has been designated as a terrorist organization in the United States. Meanwhile, the U.S. government has spent decades surveilling, prosecuting, and vilifying Muslim Americans under the banner of “counterterrorism.”
Foreign branches of white nationalist groups have been labeled as terrorist organizations by countries like the U.K., Canada, and Germany. Yet their U.S. affiliates continue to operate freely—recruiting online, organizing armed rallies, and spreading hate without consequence.
Programs like CVE (Countering Violent Extremism) still target Muslim students, mosques, and immigrant neighborhoods—despite the lack of any evidence that they’re the primary source of extremist violence.
The message is clear: if you’re Muslim or Black, you’re labeled a threat. If you’re white and armed, you’re given a pass.
What We’re Doing:
Co-authored a landmark report with MPAC after the January 6th insurrection, calling for a full-scale federal pivot toward white nationalist domestic terrorism.
Engaging elected officials to expose double standards in terrorism prosecutions and demand equal accountability.
Mobilizing Muslim American communities to fight back against policies that criminalize our existence while ignoring actual threats.
What We’re Calling For:
Designate white nationalist groups as terrorist organizations when they meet the criteria—just like other nations have done.
Redirect federal resources away from surveilling Muslim communities and toward dismantling violent white nationalist networks.
Hold prosecutors accountable for the blatant double standards in terrorism charges.
Protect civil liberties by resisting overbroad expansions of counterterrorism powers that always end up targeting the most vulnerable.
This fight isn’t just about policy—it’s about survival. The United States cannot claim to care about national security while it turns a blind eye to the most dangerous threat within its borders.
Note: While some of these groups have been designated under the U.S. Department of State's Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) list, they are not listed as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs), which carries different legal implications.
The lack of formal terrorist designations for these groups within the U.S. contrasts with actions taken by other countries, highlighting a discrepancy in addressing the threat posed by white nationalist and neo-Nazi organizations.
© Emgage Action 2025
