“I am pleased to announce that I will designate Antifa, the radical left disaster—sick and dangerous—as a major terrorist organization,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on September 17. “I am also strongly urging a thorough investigation, under the highest legal standards, into any individuals or organizations funding Antifa.”
Antifa is a loosely organized movement rather than a centralized entity, making it unclear how such a designation could be applied in practice. During his first term, Trump had threatened to classify Antifa as a domestic terrorist group but never followed through. He has repeatedly accused Antifa of fueling violence against police and playing a role in the January 6 Capitol riot.
“This is one of many steps the President will take to confront left-wing groups that incite political violence,” a White House official said. Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller added on September 15 that the administration intends to “eradicate and dismantle the large-scale domestic terrorist movement” linked to the assassination of activist Charlie Kirk. Both Miller and Vice President JD Vance have argued that the U.S. is witnessing the rise of a “radical left-wing movement.”