President Donald Trump said he is designating the far-left anti-fascism movement Antifa as a terrorist organization, announcing the move on his Truth Social platform in the early hours of Thursday morning UK time.
It wasn’t immediately clear what mechanism Trump would use to make the designation, and Antifa lacks centralized structure or defined leadership, making it unclear who or what precisely would be targeted.
“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. “I will also be strongly recommending that those funding ANTIFA be thoroughly investigated in accordance with the highest legal standards and practices. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
A White House official told CNN, “This is just one of many actions the president will take to address left wing organizations that fuel political violence.”
Trump — who’s overseas for a formal state visit — signaled the move earlier this week in remarks from the Oval Office following the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
coward.
right on message for libertarians.
How am I a coward? My principals also don’t 100% align with the left as well. I only was registered dem to vote in primaries for a brief time. Before I was an independent.
“I don’t want the fascists to think I’m not one of them” <-- that’s you
Now I’m a facist? Wow. I’m not judging you so don’t do the same to me. I believe what I believe
You said that you didn’t want the fascists to think you were affiliated with the “left”, you did it in response to kirk being shot, by someone who’s political leaning is, as I most recently understand it, not well defined.