🔗 Share this article

Donald Trump declared Thursday morning that he aims to label antifa as a “key radical entity”.

What Is the Antifa Movement?

The antifa movement, short for “anti-fascists,” describes a umbrella label for far-left-leaning activist groups. Rather than being a centralized entity, but consists of various collectives that confront far-right extremists, especially during protests.

Legal and Governmental Challenges

It is still uncertain by what means the administration could officially label what is primarily a fragmented activist network as a radical entity. Administration officials has not yet provided specifics on Wednesday.

Antifa is a American phenomenon and, as such, is ineligible for the official database of foreign terror organizations. That list features multiple organizations, like Islamic State and al-Qaeda.

There is no parallel registry in part because broad free speech protections granted to organizations operating within the America. Despite periodic calls, notably in the wake of violent incidents perpetrated by white supremacists, to enact a domestic terrorism law, no such law currently exists.

Trump’s Statements

Donald Trump, currently on a official trip to the Britain, issued the statement through a digital update just prior to 1:30 AM this past Thursday. He referred to antifa as a “DANGEROUS, EXTREMIST, LEFT-WING CATASTROPHE”. Additionally, he mentioned that he will be “actively pushing” that funders of antifa be investigated.

During a conversation with reporters in the Oval Office earlier this week, the president noted that he would pursue a domestic terrorism designation for antifa on condition that such a step had the support of the top legal official and others in his administration.

“It’s something I will do, absolutely,” the president stated. “I would do that 100%. Antifa is terrible.”

Legislative Responses

On Wednesday night, Bill Cassidy, praised the president’s decision, stating: “Antifa exploited a wave of legitimate grievances to advance unrest and disorder, hindering fairness and equality. The President is correct to acknowledge the harmful role of antifa by labeling them as domestic terrorists.”

In July 2019, the senator and Senator Ted Cruz proposed a resolution in the upper chamber to censure the destructive actions of antifa and to label the group a national terrorist group.

Previous Background

Last year, during the George Floyd protests, the president previously raised the notion of labeling antifa as a extremist group.

The president’s previous top FBI official, Wray, stated in testimony that antifa is an political philosophy, not an organization, missing the organized leadership that would normally allow it to be labeled as a extremist organization by the US government.