Trump Announces Antifa Will Be Designated a ‘Major Terrorist Organization’ After Kirk Assassination

by Emmitt Barry, with reporting from Washington D.C. Bureau Staff

WASHINGTON (Worthy News) – President Donald Trump announced Wednesday evening that he is designating Antifa as a “major terrorist organization,” citing a wave of violent protests and last week’s assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

“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 posted on Truth Social. “I will also be strongly recommending that those funding ANTIFA be thoroughly investigated in accordance with the highest legal standards and practices.”

The president had told The Center Square earlier this week that he was “100%” in favor of the designation and had spoken with Attorney General Pam Bondi about pursuing federal RICO charges against Antifa-linked networks and their donors.

Renewed Crackdown After Kirk’s Murder

Trump’s move follows the killing of Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA and a close Trump ally, at Utah Valley University last week. The accused shooter, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, allegedly engraved antifascist slogans and memes onto bullet casings, including one inscribed with “Hey fascist! Catch!”

Prosecutors said Robinson’s family confirmed he leaned politically left and told relatives he targeted Kirk because he believed the activist was “spreading hate.” Authorities have not established formal ties between Robinson and any Antifa cell but noted his language and symbolism mirrored Antifa-style messaging.

One Oregon-based Antifa collective acknowledged the backlash Kirk’s murder sparked. “On a national level, Kirk’s killing has done much to galvanize and unify America’s right-wing,” the group wrote in a blog post Tuesday.

A Shadowy, Violent Movement

Antifa — short for “anti-fascist” — is a loosely organized network of radical activists known for wearing black, concealing identities, and clashing with police during protests. The group gained notoriety during the Trump administration’s first term, when violent anti-ICE and Black Lives Matter protests erupted across U.S. cities.

In May 2020, the Justice Department under Attorney General Bill Barr said Antifa’s violence was “domestic terrorism and will be treated accordingly.” That year, Trump also vowed to designate the group a terrorist organization after riots swept the nation following the death of George Floyd.

The State of New Jersey’s homeland security office has previously classified Antifa as a domestic extremist threat, noting its reliance on Molotov cocktails, vandalism, and “black bloc” tactics.

Legal Hurdles Ahead

Unlike foreign terrorist organizations, U.S. law does not provide a clear mechanism for designating domestic groups as terrorist entities. Instead, the Trump administration is signaling the use of existing anti-racketeering and counterterrorism statutes to pursue individuals and financial backers associated with Antifa.

Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller said the White House is determined to “follow the money.” FBI Director Kash Patel told senators this week that investigators are already working with the Treasury Department to track Antifa’s funding sources.

“Somebody is paying for all of this,” Miller said. “Under the president’s direction, the attorney general is going to find out who is paying for it — and they will now be criminally liable for funding violence.”

Political Flashpoint

Trump’s designation comes amid intensifying political divides over domestic extremism. While Democrats and some former intelligence officials have characterized Antifa as more of an “ideology” than an organization, Republicans point to years of organized violence and targeted attacks on conservatives as evidence of a real and growing threat.

“Antifa is terrible,” Trump said Monday. “There are other groups too. We have some pretty radical groups, and they got away with murder. But no more.”

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