Trump's second term faces a daunting test from the U.S. threat landscape and domestic extremism.

In his first term as president, Donald Trump witnessed the peak of a violent civil war in Syria, a surge of Islamic State activity, and an increase in ISIS-inspired attacks both domestically and abroad.

Eight years later, many of these bogeymen have returned.

In the last eight weeks, Syrian rebels launched a rapid attack, regaining control of the country and its capital, compelling longtime leader Bashar al-Assad to seek refuge in Russia. This has led to renewed questions about the U.S.'s role in Syria, as concerns arise that inaction could exacerbate the power vacuum, making it easier for Islamic State militants and other terrorist groups to exploit the situation.

On Wednesday, U.S. authorities were busy investigating and responding to two separate attacks in New Orleans and Las Vegas. Although these incidents occurred thousands of miles apart, they are being probed as possible acts of terrorism, highlighting the ongoing threat of homegrown extremism.

As Trump's second term approaches, the unexpected collapse of Syria's authoritarian regime and the resulting violence have prompted new questions about how the U.S. might act.

Options for Trump

Trump has consistently opposed the deployment of U.S. troops in foreign conflicts, including the withdrawal of all military personnel from Syria's north in 2019.

Last month on Truth Social, he restated his stance that the U.S. should stay out of the Syrian conflict.

"Let it play out," he said.

The deadly attacks in New Orleans may have influenced Trump's decision, as fourteen people were killed by Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a Texas native and U.S. army veteran who drove from Houston to Bourbon Street in a rented pickup truck, plowing through crowds of people celebrating the new year. Jabbar was also fatally shot by police.

According to FBI officials, Jabbar, who placed an Islamic State flag on the rented vehicle, was "totally motivated by ISIS" during the terrorist attack, although it is uncertain if he has any genuine connections to the organization.

Officials said that Jabbar, who had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State, is believed to have joined the group this past summer. He was also seen on surveillance footage planting explosive devices in coolers along Bourbon and Orleans Streets, as well as another intersection nearby. However, both devices were later rendered safe by bomb squad teams.

The FBI is investigating the Las Vegas explosion that occurred outside the Trump hotel in a Tesla Cybertruck as a possible act of terrorism.

Matthew Alan Livelsberger, a former member of the U.S. Army's special forces unit, is believed to be connected to the explosion case, and FBI officials raided a house in Colorado Springs on Thursday.

If Trump continues to oppose U.S. intervention in foreign wars, he could consider alternative measures to combat domestic violence, such as tightening immigration policies to prevent potential threats from entering the country.

Over the past three years, more than 400 migrants from Central Asia and other countries were smuggled into the U.S. by ISIS-linked smuggling groups, resulting in new arrests and "subjects of concern" designations, as revealed by the Department of Homeland Security in June.

DHS officials stated that the arrests, initially reported by NBC, were carried out due to "an abundance of caution." At the time, they emphasized that they had not discovered any credible threats to the U.S. from the migrants, who may have been seeking to enter the country.

A border crackdown may not be sufficient to address the issue, as it is further complicated by the actions of lone-wolf threat actors and individuals who are radicalized through online platforms.

A pervasive threat

The FBI has intensified its efforts to combat the threat of domestic terrorism, as stated in its latest "Worldwide Threats to the Homeland" report.

The report pointed out that small groups or individuals pose the greatest threat to national security, typically using readily available weapons like guns and cars to target "soft targets," which are groups of civilians gathered in large numbers at easily accessible locations.

Individuals who have lived primarily in the U.S. and carry out actions inspired by, but not at the express direction of, a foreign terrorist organization such as ISIS, are the greatest, most immediate international terrorism threat to the homeland, according to the law enforcement agency.

During the holidays, there is a heightened risk of vehicular attacks by lone-wolf offenders, as noted in a shared bulliten by the FBI and other authorities. Threat actors have previously plotted and conducted attacks against holiday targets, with likely targets including public places with perceived lower levels of security and large gatherings.

Despite the threat not disappearing, Trump's first term as president witnessed numerous attacks committed by individuals who pledged loyalty to ISIS or other jihad groups, even if they were not acting under the group's direction. These individuals were responsible for the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting, the 2017 New York City truck attack, a 2017 machete attack at a Middle Eastern restaurant in Columbus, Ohio, and many other acts of violence.

At least 16 vehicular ramming attacks have been carried out by individuals practicing jihad in the U.S. and Europe since 2014, according to a report from the think tank New America.

The number of domestic terrorism investigations conducted by the FBI has more than doubled since 2020, indicating the growing complexity of the problem.

FBI officials stated at a press briefing on Thursday that the suspect in the New Orleans attack, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, was "totally motivated by ISIS."

"Christopher Raia, the FBI Assistant Director of Counterterrorism, stated to reporters that the act in question was an act of terrorism, meticulously planned and an evil deed."