Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has announced that his government will officially designate antifa—a loosely organized, left-wing anti-fascist movement—as a terrorist organization, following a similar policy move by U.S. President Donald Trump. The announcement, made on September 19, 2025, during Orbán’s regular state radio appearance, marks a significant alignment between Budapest and Washington on a contentious issue that has sparked debate on both sides of the Atlantic.
Orbán, who has been at Hungary’s helm for more than 15 years and is widely recognized as a right-wing populist and a staunch ally of Trump, expressed clear satisfaction with the American president’s decision. According to the Associated Press, Orbán stated, “Antifa is indeed a terrorist organization. In Hungary, too, the time has come for us to classify organizations such as antifa as terrorist organizations, following the American model.” He added that he was “pleased” by Trump’s announcement, which was made just a day prior in the United States.
Antifa—short for “anti-fascist”—is not a single organization but rather an umbrella term for a diffuse network of far-left activists and groups. Their primary focus is resisting fascism, fascists, and neo-Nazis, particularly at demonstrations. As CNN reported, antifa resembles more of an ideology than a centralized movement, lacking formal leadership or structure. While most adherents engage in protests, some have embraced militant tactics, which has fueled controversy and led to calls for legal action against them in several countries.
The consequences of this new designation are still unclear, both in Hungary and the United States. In the U.S., legal experts point out that the First Amendment offers robust protections for freedom of speech and association, making it difficult to outlaw a loosely defined movement like antifa. In Hungary, where Orbán’s Fidesz party has dominated politics for over a decade and a half, antifa has had little visible presence. Despite this, Orbán’s government is pressing ahead with the policy, arguing that it is necessary to protect public order and security.
Orbán’s announcement was not made in a vacuum. He specifically referenced a high-profile incident in Budapest in 2023, when antifascist activists assaulted several suspected participants in the annual far-right “Day of Honor” event. The event, which European lawmakers have described as “a disgrace, featuring Nazi flags, slogans, and uniforms,” has long been a flashpoint for clashes between far-right and left-wing demonstrators.
One of the alleged assailants in the 2023 incident was Italian activist Ilaria Salis. Salis was arrested in Hungary and spent more than a year in custody, which led to a diplomatic dispute between Rome and Budapest over her treatment in detention. She was eventually released to house arrest in May 2024, shortly before winning a seat in the European Parliament—a development that granted her legal immunity from prosecution. Hungarian prosecutors, however, continue to demand her return to face trial, where they are seeking an 11-year prison sentence.
Orbán did not mince words when discussing Salis’s case. According to the Associated Press, he said, “Antifa had come to Hungary and beaten peaceful people in the street, some were beaten half to death, and then they became European members of parliament and from there lecture Hungary on the rule of law.” His remarks have drawn sharp reactions from other European lawmakers, some of whom have criticized Hungary’s handling of the case and the broader political climate in which it unfolded.
Observers note that Orbán’s move to label antifa a terrorist organization comes at a time of heightened tension over security, civil liberties, and the rule of law in Europe. As reported by Mezha, the Hungarian prime minister has often used the specter of left-wing activism to justify policies that critics say undermine civil institutions and concentrate power in the hands of his government. He has also accused billionaire philanthropist George Soros and his Open Society Foundations of meddling in Hungarian affairs—an allegation that has become a recurring theme in the country’s political discourse.
In the United States, the debate over antifa has similarly become a flashpoint in the broader culture wars. Conservative critics have called for the use of the RICO Act—a law designed to combat organized crime—against left-wing groups they accuse of inciting violence. The recent decisions by Trump and now Orbán have intensified the debate over how democracies should balance the need for security with the protection of civil liberties, especially when it comes to amorphous movements like antifa.
Despite these high-level pronouncements, it remains unclear what practical effect the terrorist designation will have in either country. In Hungary, there is no clearly centralized antifa movement, and incidents involving antifascist activists are rare. Still, Orbán’s government appears determined to press ahead, framing the move as a necessary step to maintain order and respond to what it describes as violent extremism.
European reactions to Hungary’s announcement have been mixed. Some lawmakers have condemned the move as a political ploy designed to deflect attention from domestic issues and to further clamp down on dissent. Others argue that it reflects a broader trend in which governments use the threat of extremism—real or perceived—to justify sweeping legal and political changes. The debate has also touched on the question of immunity for members of the European Parliament, with some officials expressing concern that legal protections could be abused to shield individuals from accountability for violent actions.
For his part, Orbán has remained unapologetic, insisting that his government is acting in the best interests of Hungarian society. “The time has also come in Hungary for organizations like antifa to be classified as terrorist organizations, following the American example,” he declared on state radio, as quoted by CNN. He went on to suggest that members of antifa could “become Members of the European Parliament” and later “teach Hungary the rule of law,” a statement that has only added fuel to the ongoing political firestorm.
As Hungary moves forward with its plans, the eyes of Europe—and indeed the world—will be watching closely. The decision to label antifa as a terrorist organization is likely to have far-reaching implications, not only for Hungary’s domestic politics but also for its relations with the European Union and its standing in the broader international community. Whether this policy will actually curb violent activism or simply inflame political tensions remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the debate over antifa, security, and democracy is far from over.
With both Hungary and the United States now taking a hard line against antifa, the coming months will provide a crucial test of how democracies navigate the complex intersection of free speech, public safety, and the rule of law in an increasingly polarized world.