By Eniola Amadu
President Donald Trump of the United States of America has announced plans to designate Antifa as a terrorist organisation, reviving a controversial proposal first raised during his previous administration.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump described Antifa as “a sick, dangerous, radical left disaster” and said he would recommend thorough investigations into individuals and organisations allegedly financing the movement.
“I am pleased to inform our many U.S.A. Patriots that I am designating ANTIFA… as a major terrorist organisation,” the president wrote.
“I will also be strongly recommending that those funding ANTIFA be thoroughly investigated in accordance with the highest legal standards and practices.”
Antifa, short for “anti-fascist,” is not a single formal body but rather a loose network of left-leaning activists.
The group has often been linked to counter-protests at right-wing rallies, but experts and law enforcement agencies generally regard it as decentralised and not highly organised.
The legal implications of such a designation remain uncertain.
U.S. law provides a clear framework for designating foreign groups as terrorist organisations, but no equivalent legal category exists for domestic groups.
According to a Congressional Research Service report, this makes it unclear how such a move could be enforced in practice.
Trump made a similar pledge to classify Antifa as a terrorist organisation in 2020, during nationwide protests following the killing of George Floyd. At the time, his administration did not follow through on the proposal.
The latest announcement comes in the wake of heightened political tensions following the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk last week.
In response to the killing, the president vowed to hold not only the perpetrators accountable but also groups and individuals he accused of enabling “radical left political violence.”
Earlier this week, when pressed by a reporter on whether he would proceed with the designation, Trump said, “it’s something I would do,” while also suggesting the possible use of racketeering charges against alleged funders of Antifa-linked activity.
The White House has not yet provided details on when or how the designation would take place.
