This move came just one day after the suspect in the assassination of Charlie Kirk was charged, though there is no evidence linking the incident to Antifa.
According to Reuters, on September 17, U.S. President Donald Trump signaled new actions targeting left-wing groups, particularly the anti-fascist movement Antifa.
On the Truth Social platform, Trump declared: “I am officially designating Antifa as a terrorist organization.”
He also emphasized he would “strongly recommend a comprehensive investigation” into individuals or organizations funding this movement, “according to the strictest legal standards and procedures.”
Trump’s statement came one day after Utah state prosecutors formally charged Tyler Robinson (age 22) as the suspect in the assassination of Charlie Kirk.
However, there is currently no evidence showing Tyler Robinson is connected to any organization, and the motive for the crime is still under investigation.
Additionally, legal experts have questioned the validity of President Trump’s declaration, as Antifa is not a clearly structured organization with official leadership, but rather a loosely connected ideological movement.
According to Reuters, this is not the first time Trump has targeted Antifa. In 2020, amid widespread protests following the death of George Floyd, Trump also proposed labeling the movement as “terrorist.”
George Floyd was an African American man who died after police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck during an arrest for allegedly using a counterfeit $20 bill at a convenience store. George Floyd died on May 25, 2020, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, at the age of 46.
At that time, many experts warned that labeling an ideological movement as a terrorist organization lacks legal basis, is difficult to enforce, and could violate free speech rights. Because adhering to an ideology does not constitute illegal behavior.
President Trump and some of his senior officials have repeatedly accused left-wing groups of creating a hostile environment for conservatives. They believe this contributed to the assassination of Charlie Kirk.
According to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), Antifa (short for “anti-fascist”) is a non-governmental movement whose participants oppose individuals or groups they deem authoritarian or racist.
Antifa operates on a left-wing ideology, but it differs from the mainstream left-wing values of the Democratic Party.
Antifa’s views are difficult to define precisely, but many movement members support oppressed populations, oppose corporations, and elite classes that accumulate wealth in society. Some employ radical and aggressive tactics to convey their message.
Groups identifying as Antifa are often amorphous, lacking a central command structure, with only some groups being well-organized. This also makes it difficult for authorities to address violence perpetrated by Antifa groups.
Antifa became a focus of media and public attention after the 2017 protest in Charlottesville, Virginia, organized by white supremacists and nationalists to oppose the city’s removal of a statue of General Robert E. Lee.
Many followers of the Antifa movement, also gathered in Charlottesville dressed in black and wearing masks, engaged in violent clashes with right-wing protesters.
U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the Republican Party will hold a midterm convention ahead of the 2026 elections to honor the achievements of his administration.
