On Wednesday, September 17, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump announced his decision to officially designate the Antifa movement, a left-wing anti-fascist collective, as a terrorist organization. This declaration comes in the wake of the assassination of prominent right-wing political activist Charlie Kirk.
Antifa, an abbreviation for ‘anti-fascists,’ is commonly understood as a broad designation for various militant, far-left-leaning groups. It’s crucial to note that Antifa is not a single, unified organization but rather a collection of autonomous groups primarily focused on resisting fascists and neo-Nazis, often seen at protests and demonstrations.
However, questions immediately arose regarding the practicalities of officially labeling a decentralized movement like Antifa as a terrorist organization. The White House, at the time of the announcement, did not provide specific details on how this designation would be implemented or what it would entail.
President Trump delivered this announcement via a social media post just before 1:30 a.m. local time on Thursday, while he was on a state visit to the United Kingdom. In his post, he vociferously condemned Antifa, describing it as a ‘SICK, DANGEROUS, RADICAL LEFT DISASTER.’ He further stated his intention to ‘strongly recommend’ investigations into individuals and entities financially supporting Antifa activities.
This move by the President contrasts with previous statements from his own administration. In 2020, then-FBI Director Christopher Wray testified that Antifa represents an ideology rather than a formal organization. Wray highlighted that the movement lacks the clear, hierarchical structure typically required for the federal government to officially label a group as a terrorist entity.
Following President Trump’s declaration, Senator Bill Cassidy (R-La.) publicly lauded the decision. Cassidy stated, ‘Antifa seized upon a movement of legitimate grievances to promote violence and anarchy, working against justice for all. The president is right to recognize the destructive role of Antifa by designating them domestic terrorists.’
It’s worth noting that this sentiment aligns with previous efforts by Senator Cassidy. In July 2019, he, alongside Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), introduced a Senate resolution aimed at condemning Antifa’s violent actions and formally designating the group as a domestic terror organization.