Trump says he's designating far-left anti-fascism group Antifa as a terrorist organization
Donald Trump announced early Thursday morning on Truth Social that he is designating Antifa, the far-left anti-fascist movement, as a terrorist organization.
The statement left unclear what authority or mechanism would be used for such a designation, given that Antifa has no centralized leadership or formal structure, raising questions about who or what would be directly targeted.
“I am pleased to inform our many U.S.A. Patriots that I am designating ANTIFA, A SICK, DANGEROUS, RADICAL LEFT DISASTER, AS A MAJOR TERRORIST ORGANIZATION,” Trump wrote. “I will also be strongly recommending that those funding ANTIFA be thoroughly investigated in accordance with the highest legal standards and practices. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
A White House official told CNN the move is “one of many actions the president will take to address left-wing organizations that fuel political violence.”
Trump, currently abroad on a state visit, had hinted earlier this week at the Oval Office that such action was forthcoming, following the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Since Kirk’s assassination, several administration officials have said they plan to pursue what they describe as coordinated left-wing efforts to incite violence. The approach has already drawn criticism from Democrats, who accuse Trump of seeking a pretext to suppress dissent and opposing viewpoints.
It remains uncertain what concrete effect the designation would have. During his first term, Trump also pledged to label Antifa a terrorist organization, and then-Attorney General William Barr called its activities “domestic terrorism.”
Antifa, shorthand for anti-fascists, is not an organization in the traditional sense but rather a diffuse movement. While U.S. law prohibits providing “material support” to designated foreign terrorist organizations, no equivalent statute exists for domestic groups.
The term Antifa generally refers to loosely aligned activists on the left, often the far left, whose beliefs diverge from the Democratic Party. The movement has no national leader or headquarters, though local groups in some states hold regular meetings.