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.

  • merdaverse@lemmy.zip
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    17
    ·
    1 day ago

    To a fascist government, anti-fascists are “terrorists”. It was the same for partisans in nazifascist occupied Europe.

  • radiofreebc@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    26
    ·
    2 days ago

    Antifa isn’t an organization…it’s an idea. So, if someone is anti-fascist, they’re terrorists?

    Make it make sense.

  • suicidaleggroll@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    41
    ·
    2 days ago

    ANTIFA is not an organization, it’s a movement, an idea. Anybody who disapproves of fascism is ANTIFA, by definition, and are therefore now considered terrorists by this administration. This move is so that people can now be arrested, deported, detained, executed for speaking out against this administration. There are STILL people being held in Gitmo without trial because the state considered them terrorists. That’s where we’re at now with anybody who dares to speak out against Trump or joins a protest against this administration.

  • hraegsvelmir@ani.social
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    20
    ·
    2 days ago

    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.

    Honestly, seems pretty clear to me. It’s a blank check for them to lock up anyone inconvenient. If you participate in a protest, talk trash about whoever happens to be the MAGA darling of the day, or do anything else they dislike, they can accuse you and/or the event of being associated with Antifa, and job done. Maybe it won’t hold up in court (for now), but that’s still a threat that will help to chill dissent.

  • DarkFuture@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    52
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    2 days ago

    Where is ANTIFA?

    When was the last time someone saw ANTIFA?

    Who are ANTIFA’s leaders?

    Just another scare tactic to get terrified conservatives to fear an invisible boogeyman even more than they already do.

    Also, let’s be clear. ANTIFA stands for Anti-Fascist. In a nation not run by actual fascists, anti-fascism is a good thing.

    • this@sh.itjust.works
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      8
      ·
      2 days ago

      This is far more than a scare tactic. Its a way to designate anyone who disagrees with the current regime to be legally designated as an enemy of the state and allow for dissidents to be arrested, held indefinitely, and tortured through legal loopholes(at least until they stop needing to actually follow any semblance of the law).

      This is a major step towards trump consolidating his power and he’s wanted it since his first term.

    • Flatfire@lemmy.ca
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      7
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      2 days ago

      Gonna be real with you chief, I think those are of the least concern with the recent advancements the American government has made towards becoming a single party state in the last few months. The Epstein files were the distraction, not the other way around.

      • SLVRDRGN@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        2
        ·
        2 days ago

        I think the point I’m trying to make here is that if we, as a people, decide to hold all people accountable to the same standards (especially those meant to represent us), then unchecked power like this would not continue. The Epstein files are an easy way to convict Trump for acts he most likely has done. We simply have to hold him to it.

  • MrsDoyle@sh.itjust.works
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    14
    ·
    2 days ago

    Is Antifa an actual organisation? I always thought of it as a vague lumping together of leftish people by … well, by people like Trump.

  • LoafedBurrito@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    52
    ·
    2 days ago

    He is following the Nazi playbook to a T.

    Come 2026, many of us will be arrested with no due process and put into concentration camps for using the 1st amendment. The dictatorship is here and republicans REFUSE to admit it because the fascist is on their side.

    We have to make a decision in the next few months. Continue to work, be a member of society, and ignore what is happening. Or cause massive disruptions that will get change started.

    Sadly, i don’t think the majority of the population is willing to fight until they are in the bread line.

    • logicbomb@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      184
      ·
      3 days ago

      Or at least commit acts of terrorism?

      How do you add “no terrorism” to “no organization”, and come up with “terrorist organization”?

      Antifa’s Wikipedia page has a similar juxtaposition:

      Several analyses, reports, and studies have concluded that antifa is not a major domestic terrorism risk. On September 17, 2025, Trump announced plans to designate Antifa as a “major terrorist organization.”

    • njm1314@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      61
      ·
      3 days ago

      That’s why they want to do it. If there’s no hierarchy or apparatus, no Central structure, no actual organization, well that all just means that they can call you a member if they want and there’s nothing to dispute it. It’s perfect for them.

    • frongt@lemmy.zip
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      29
      ·
      3 days ago

      We’ve been at war with categories and concepts for decades, this isn’t really different.

    • 418_im_a_teapot@sh.itjust.works
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      2 days ago

      It’s the same thing they do with claiming some random tattoo is a gang tattoo.

      It’s difficult to prove an actual crime was committed by someone than to create a scary boogeyman “organization” and just convince people you’re guilty by association. It’s even easier when you can change the characteristics of the boogeyman to match the person you’re trying to prosecute.

      We’ve let it go on for decades, and now there’s plenty of precedent. We don’t stand a chance.

    • redjard@lemmy.dbzer0.com
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      3
      ·
      2 days ago

      The notorious hackers anonymous and 4chan soon to be arrested. Hope they rot in prison together with the leadership of the trans agenda.

    • Hector@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      3
      ·
      2 days ago

      Apparently no. We are in a post-truth society, reality lost, it is whatever they say it is. That is until we get some real leadership