In a move that has reignited fierce debate across the American political spectrum, President Donald Trump announced in the early hours of September 18, 2025, that he intends to designate Antifa, the loosely organized anti-fascism movement, as a major terrorist organization. The announcement, made via Trump’s Truth Social platform while he was on a formal state visit to the United Kingdom, marks the latest—and perhaps boldest—effort by the administration to clamp down on what it describes as left-wing political violence.
“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 posted shortly before 1:30 a.m. UK time, as reported by CNN and the Associated Press. He added, “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!”
The announcement was not entirely unexpected. Earlier in the week, Trump had signaled his intentions from the Oval Office, particularly in the aftermath of the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk—a crime that has further polarized national discourse. According to CNN, a host of administration officials have since indicated that the White House will target what it claims is an orchestrated left-wing effort to incite violence, with Antifa at the center of these allegations.
Yet, as with many of Trump’s previous pronouncements regarding Antifa, questions abound regarding the practical implications and legal mechanisms behind such a designation. As the Associated Press points out, Antifa is not a structured organization with a central leadership or headquarters. Rather, it’s an umbrella term for a broad, decentralized movement comprising individuals and groups who see themselves as resisting fascism and neo-Nazism. “Antifa, a broad and decentralized political movement comprising individuals and groups who believe that fascism continues to pose a unique threat to democratic and peaceful societies and must be combatted through extraordinary, radical, and, in some cases, violent and illegal means,” notes Encyclopedia Britannica, as cited by the Associated Press.
This lack of formal structure poses a unique challenge for any attempt to designate Antifa as a terrorist organization. Traditionally, the U.S. government’s list of foreign terrorist organizations—maintained by the State Department—enables federal authorities to prosecute those who provide “material support” to listed entities, even if that support does not result in violence. However, as the Associated Press explains, there is no domestic equivalent to this list, largely due to the broad First Amendment protections enjoyed by groups operating within the United States.
Trump, for his part, appears undeterred by these legal complexities. He stated that he would pursue a domestic terrorism designation for Antifa if the move had the backing of Attorney General Pam Bondi and others in his Cabinet. In his Oval Office remarks, Trump revealed that he’d been discussing with Bondi the prospect of bringing racketeering (RICO) charges against left-wing groups believed to be funding agitators. “I’ve asked Pam to look into that in terms of RICO, bringing RICO cases,” Trump said, according to CNN. “They should be put in jail, what they’re doing to this country is really subversive.”
A White House official, speaking to CNN, characterized the designation as just one in a series of actions the president intends to take against left-wing organizations accused of fueling political violence. “This is just one of many actions the president will take to address left wing organizations that fuel political violence,” the official said.
The administration’s stance is not entirely new. During his first term, Trump vowed to designate Antifa as a terrorist organization, and then-Attorney General William Barr described its activities as “domestic terrorism.” The Associated Press recalls that in July 2019, Republican Senators Bill Cassidy and Ted Cruz introduced a Senate resolution to condemn violent acts attributed to Antifa and to designate the group a domestic terror organization. The effort gained renewed momentum in 2020, during the nationwide George Floyd protests, when Barr blamed “anarchic and far-left extremist groups” for violence at demonstrations.
But the legal and constitutional obstacles remain formidable. As the Associated Press highlights, Antifa’s status as a domestic entity means it cannot be included on the State Department’s list of foreign terror organizations. Calls to establish a domestic terrorism law—particularly after mass shootings by white supremacists—have so far failed to yield a singular statute. Without such a law, any attempt to designate Antifa as a terrorist organization is likely to remain symbolic, at least in the short term.
In addition to the proposed terrorist designation, Trump has floated other measures aimed at left-leaning groups. Earlier in the week, he raised the possibility of revoking the tax-exempt status of liberal non-profit organizations, a move that would have broad ramifications for civil society. His attorney general has also discussed the prospect of bringing criminal charges against groups or individuals allegedly targeting conservatives.
Trump’s rhetoric has drawn sharp criticism from Democratic lawmakers and civil liberties advocates, who argue that the administration is seeking to suppress dissent and target political opponents under the guise of national security. Some Democrats contend that the president’s actions are designed to create a pretext for cracking down on opposing viewpoints, rather than addressing genuine threats to public safety.
Underlying the controversy is the contested definition of Antifa itself. The term, derived from the German “antifaschistisch,” references anti-fascist movements dating back to the 1930s. According to Encyclopedia Britannica, Antifa groups have historically organized to resist fascists and neo-Nazis, especially at demonstrations. Their tactics, which sometimes include confrontational or even violent means, have fueled heated debate over the boundaries of legitimate protest and the government’s role in regulating political expression.
Supporters of the president’s move argue that Antifa’s willingness to employ radical and, at times, illegal tactics justifies a robust federal response. They point to incidents of property destruction and clashes with law enforcement as evidence that the movement poses a real and present danger to public order. Critics, however, warn that the sweeping language used by the administration risks conflating peaceful protest with criminal activity, and could have a chilling effect on free speech and assembly.
As the debate intensifies, the practical impact of Trump’s announcement remains uncertain. Without a clear legal framework for designating domestic groups as terrorist organizations, and given Antifa’s diffuse nature, the administration may struggle to translate its rhetoric into concrete action. Nevertheless, the president’s declaration has already succeeded in thrusting the issue of political violence—and the government’s response—back into the national spotlight.
With the 2024 election cycle still fresh in the nation’s memory and political tensions running high, the fate of Antifa’s designation, and the broader questions it raises about democracy and dissent in America, are sure to remain at the forefront of public debate in the months ahead.
