During a heated segment on *The Five*, liberal panelist Jessica Tarlov made a controversial claim that white supremacists pose a greater threat to the United States than Islamic jihadists. Her remarks, made in the wake of a chilling terror attack on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, where a man drove a truck through a crowd while waving an ISIS flag, have ignited fierce debate.

“We put up all those numbers about how many people have been killed by jihadists, but it’s not as many as those who have been killed by white supremacists,” Tarlov asserted, citing statistics from the left-leaning New America Foundation. She attempted to break down her argument by pointing to a tally of deaths attributed to different ideological motivations since 9/11, claiming, “134 killed by far-right wingers, 107 killed by jihadists,” and smaller figures for other groups.

Her co-hosts quickly pushed back, questioning the validity of her data and calling out what many conservatives see as a politically motivated narrative. Tarlov, appearing flustered, snapped back, “I don’t know, how many people fell off an ice cream truck?”

Tarlov’s remarks quickly went viral, sparking a wave of criticism, particularly from conservatives who see the left’s focus on “white supremacy” as an attempt to deflect from the very real and ongoing threat of Islamic extremism.

One user on X (formerly Twitter) delved into the numbers, offering a stark rebuttal. They pointed out that while white supremacists have committed heinous acts, such as the Charleston church shooting and the Buffalo supermarket attack, the total death toll attributed to these extremists since 2001 is around 59. Narrowing the timeline to the years 2011–2021, the figure drops to 49.

By contrast, the devastation wrought by Islamic jihadists—including the catastrophic 9/11 attacks—accounts for over 3,000 deaths. Excluding 9/11, Islamic terrorism is still responsible for at least 105 deaths, with 77 occurring between 2011 and 2021.

The numbers, as many critics have pointed out, don’t support Tarlov’s sweeping claim. Instead, they highlight the disproportionate impact of jihadist terrorism, both in terms of scale and frequency, compared to other forms of politically motivated violence.

Conservatives have been quick to contextualize Tarlov’s claim within a broader narrative. One user reminded followers of the historical roots of the Ku Klux Klan, a group often cited as emblematic of white supremacy. “Shall we remind ourselves that the KKK was a Democrat-founded organization as a response to Republican efforts to abolish slavery? Just for a bigger picture, or are we cherry-picking what suits our narrative?”

Others took a more measured tone, acknowledging Tarlov’s role on *The Five*. “I think Tarlov serves as a lightning rod for *The Five*. Although I disagree with virtually everything she believes, she’s one of the most articulate progressives on air,” wrote another commenter, contrasting her with more incendiary left-wing figures like Joy Reid and Whoopi Goldberg.

The Bourbon Street terror attack has reignited discussions about national security and the priorities of political leaders. Many on the right see Tarlov’s comments as emblematic of a broader effort to downplay the dangers of radical Islamic terrorism in favor of a focus on domestic ideological battles.

As America grapples with these challenges, the debate over which threats deserve the most attention remains a flashpoint. For conservatives, the facts speak for themselves: the shadow of jihadist terror looms far larger than the left would like to admit.