How a Transformed Presidential Race Shifts the U.S. Violent Extremist Threat
The attempted assassination of Donald Trump and the political ascent of Kamala Harris could provide fringe elements on both sides of the aisle with encouragement to act.
Alejandro J. Beutel is a Non-Resident Fellow at the New Lines Institute, specializing in the study and analysis of violent and non-violent Islamist and far-right movements. He is also a Research Affiliate at the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START).
From August 2017 to March 1, 2019 he was a Senior Research Analyst at Southern Poverty Law Center’s (SPLC) Intelligence Project where he monitored U.S. far-right extremism and hate, focusing primarily on the anti-Muslim and antigovernmental “Patriot” movements. Prior to SPLC, Beutel was a Researcher for Countering Violent Extremism at START, focused on the narratives of violent U.S. far-right and Al-Qaeda and ISIS-associated actors. In 2014, Beutel was the Policy and Research Engagement Fellow at the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding (ISPU), an applied research think-tank specializing in the study and promotion of evidence-based development strategies for positive civic, social, and political engagement outcomes for American Muslim communities.
Beutel graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park in 2013 with a Master of Public Policy. He also has a Bachelor of Science in International Relations and Diplomacy from Seton Hall University in South Orange, NJ.
Latest Articles
Repercussions of the Trump Assassination Attempt
Kelsey Quinn sits down with Daryl Johnson and Alejandro Beutel, both specialists on domestic political extremism. In the wake of the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, the three discuss the political climate in which the attack took place in, potential reactions to the shooting, and the importance of political leaders' rhetoric in modulating extremism.
Part 2/2 – U.S. Domestic Political Stability and Security: A Strategic Estimate for 2024 and Beyond
Political tensions and political violence are likely to mar the months leading up to and following the U.S. presidential election. This analysis, the second part of a two-part report, explores the roles of sociopolitical actors and movements on both ends of the political spectrum, as well as external shocks, in the current divisive political environment.
Part 1/2 – U.S. Domestic Political Stability and Security: A Strategic Estimate for 2024 and Beyond
The approaching U.S. presidential election coupled with the country’s increasing polarization has created the conditions in which the risk of politically motivated violence will continue to increase.