Trump says he would designate Antifa, other left-wing groups as 'domestic terrorists'

[Eugene]

Source: CNN

Trump says he would designate Antifa, other left-wing groups as ‘domestic terrorists’

Updated Sep 15, 2025, 9:21 PM ET
PUBLISHED Sep 15, 2025, 6:02 PM ET
By Kevin Liptak, Adam Cancryn

President Donald Trump said Monday he’d consider naming far-left anti-fascism group Antifa as domestic terrorists, previewing a plan to crack down on what he’s cast as a widespread network of left-wing radicals inciting violence.

“It’s something I would do, yeah,” he said when asked whether he would assign a domestic terrorism label to Antifa, saying he would proceed if he found support from Cabinet officials and the Justice Department.

It wasn’t clear who or what exactly Trump would designate; Antifa is a loosely organized movement without a distinct leader, membership lists or structure.

His comments come as a host of administration officials have signaled in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination that they’ll be targeting what they claim is a coordinated left-wing effort to incite violence. So far, no evidence has publicly emerged that the alleged assassin was working as part of a larger, coordinated effort.

-snip-

Read more: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/09/15/politics/left-wing-groups-trump-domestic-terrorists

[BoRaGard]

1. repubes already got their pro-fascist groups going

they will not tolerate any interference from people imbued with the American spirit.

[Blues Heron]

2. What about Grantifa? (The elders sticking their necks out against fascism)

[Lovie777]

3. Antifa, RWers made up. There no such group nor organization...........

where is that mirror. This too will backfire.

1th amendment is under attack.

Magas believe shithole and administration are lying about Kirk's murder.

[AllyCat]

4. Where are the Antifa HQ, meeting places, and leaders?

Do these nuts actually think this is an organized group with chapters and donation links?

[Scrivener7]

5. That's the beauty. If it's a made up boogy man, they can claim anyone belongs to it that they want.

[Dulcinea]

9. I guess he doesn't know Antifa isn't a group?

[Dave says]

29. My guess is

The Trump Administration will simply label any group or individual he dislikes as Antifa and cart them off to the gulags. Decent probability that DU be so unjustly labeled.

Best we all have our “go bags” ready as we’re genuinely watching our society dissolve before our eyes.

[bdamomma]

6. The convicted

felon is obeying the little Nazi Stephen Miller. Pitting Americans against Americans. They lost once, they will lose again.

[Bettie]

7. I fear that he will give that designation to

the Democratic party and, with it, remove all Democrats from congress and every ballot.

Go ahead, say "he can't do that!"...then think about all the things he "can't do" that he absolutely has done.

[FarPoint]

8. Such a statement is 100% fictional...

There never has been an Antifa....so his action step is based upon an illusion living inside his head.

[Mossfern]

13. But Magats will believe him

and start (already have) taking matters into their own hands.

[no_hypocrisy]

10. Likely will designate ACLU as "Antifa" and

I’ll be screwed.

[UpInArms]

11. My father was an original antifa

Captain in the us army WWII

He fought Nazis … and so will I

Come and get me, asshole

[bucolic_frolic]

12. Projection will work so well in court

Some days I can't tell if he or they believe this stuff, or if it's bonafide delusion.

[bigtree]

14. so just any random American he says is part of this nebulous, undefined ambition

...to stand against fascists.

That's who the terrorists are?

I'll wait for the actual cases of 'terror' crimes committed by someone identifying as antifa. Most 'antifascist' activity involves nonviolent protest such as hanging posters, delivering speeches, and marching.

Waiting.

btw, he did this in his last term...

[Torchlight]

17. Sounds serious. Thoughts and prayers!

Good luck

[Submariner]

16. Don't forget the Tiki torch Sissies and Proud Punks

and especially the cop beating J6 insurrectionists republican domestic terrorists.

[spanone]

18. Funny how Jan 6th wasn't designated as Domestic Terrorism.

[Crunchy Frog]

19. I guess we'll be finding out if the Constitution is still in any way operative.

[travelingthrulife]

20. I remember suggesting after 1/6 insurrection that Proud Boys, III Percenters and

other participating groups should be declared terrorist organizations. I was met with outrage, "what if they do it to us"

Welp. Here we are. And we actually had a reason, participation in an insurrection, to make it stick. They don't need any reason to do it.

[Renew Deal]

21. Who is Antifa?

Who are their leaders? Where are their meetings?

[LetMyPeopleVote]

28. There is no organization named Antifa

[JI7]

22. Who are the members of Antifa ?

[Wiz Imp]

23. Shame on CNN for repeating the lie that there is some "group" called Antifa. No such group exists.

Last edited Tue Sep 16, 2025, 11:46 AM - Edit history (1)

And if they're going to go after people who hole antifa (anti-fascist) views, then I guess the first target should be the entire US military during World War 2 - the greatest anti-fascist operation in history. Trump effectively called all Americans who fought in WW 2 terrorists.

[muriel_volestrangler]

24. Yeah, there isn't an entity called 'Antifa'; that means he'll persecute anyone shouting "down with the fascists!"

He'll try to use this to cut freedom of speech.

[Vinca]

25. Isn't Antifa pretty much just a figment of their imagination? What's the matter - is trans bashing getting stale?

[Botany]

26. ANTIFA is not real and neither is the liberal's connections to Kirk's murder.

Trump is murdering people on the oceans, is at war on the American People and our
democracy, and is a Russian Agent too. ANTIFA is not a real thing and Trump and the
right wing’s continual trying to blame Kirk’s murder on the left is beyond all norms.

America is becoming a Facsist State of disinformation and its future looks grim.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

27. The MaddowBlog-The unsettling consequence of Trump designating antifa as a 'major terrorist organization'

Five years after the president tried to designate antifa as a terrorist organization, he’s giving it another try. The sequel will likely be worse.

Before anyone jokes about Trump categorizing a nonexistent organization as a “major terrorist organization,” remember:

If he says that antifa members are terrorists, and he says his team will decide who and what qualifies as “antifa,” this can get scary in a hurry. www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...

— Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2025-09-18T16:08:00.977Z

https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/unsettling-consequence-trump-designating-antifa-major-terrorist-organi-rcna232143

At a White House event earlier this week, a reporter asked Donald Trump whether he planned to designate antifa as a domestic terror organization. “It’s something I would do, yeah,” the president responded, adding: “Antifa is terrible.”

Two days later, NBC News reported:

Trump said on social media that he would designate antifa as a terrorist organization and recommend investigating those deemed responsible for funding it. ... The post provided few details, including how he’d make the designation or how he would target antifa — which lacks centralized leadership and structure.

“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 wrote by way of his social media platform. “I will also be strongly recommending that those funding ANTIFA be thoroughly investigated in accordance with the highest legal standards and practices.”.....

But before anyone makes jokes about Trump categorizing a nonexistent organization as a “major terrorist organization,” or shrugs this off as the latest presidential nonsense, there’s another dimension to this that’s worth worrying about: If the White House says that antifa members are terrorists, and the White House says it will decide on its own who and what qualifies as “antifa” affiliates, this can get very scary, very quickly.