Trump Signs Order Designating Antifa As 'Domestic Terrorist' Organisation

US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order designating the left-wing Antifa movement as a domestic terrorist organization, according to the White House. This action comes in the wake of the killing of his right-wing ally Charlie Kirk.

The term Antifa, short for "anti-fascist," refers to various decentralized far-left groups. Questions have been circulating since Trump first mentioned this designation last week regarding how exactly to define the movement.

In Monday's order, Trump characterized Antifa as a "militarist, anarchist enterprise that explicitly calls for the overthrow of the United States Government" and accused it of employing "violence and terrorism" to suppress freedom of speech.

The executive order states: "Because of the aforementioned pattern of political violence designed to suppress lawful political activity and obstruct the rule of law, I hereby designate Antifa as a 'domestic terrorist organization'."

Addressing the challenges in defining Antifa, the order claims the movement uses "elaborate means and mechanisms to shield the identities of its operatives." It further alleges similar tactics are used to conceal funding sources and recruit new members.

Trump's directive casts a wide net against the loosely organized group. It enables authorities to act against "any person claiming to act on behalf of Antifa, or for which Antifa or any person claiming to act on behalf of Antifa provided material support."

Since the September 10 assassination of activist Charlie Kirk at a Utah university campus, which sparked outrage among right-wing supporters, Trump has repeatedly warned of a crackdown on left-wing groups.

Authorities have charged 22-year-old Tyler Robinson with murder in Kirk's killing. According to investigators, Robinson justified the attack by citing the "hatred" he accused Kirk of spreading.

This isn't Trump's first attempt to target Antifa. During his initial term, he blamed the movement for various incidents, including violence against police and even the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot that sought to block Joe Biden's presidential election victory.

Critics of the Republican president caution that such a designation could potentially serve as a pretext to suppress dissent and target political opponents.

While Kirk was a prominent conservative figure, the United States has witnessed violence targeting members across the political spectrum in recent years, amid increasing polarization and widespread access to firearms.

The Antifa movement, whose name has origins in socialist groups that opposed Hitler in 1930s Germany, has a history of confronting right-wing groups and engaging in civil disobedience. Activists associated with Antifa, often dressed entirely in black, protest against racism, far-right ideologies, and what they consider fascism, maintaining that violent tactics are sometimes justified as self-defense.

During Trump's first inauguration in January 2017, numerous black-clad, mask-wearing Antifa and other protesters damaged property and set a car ablaze in Washington. Antifa was also involved in counter-demonstrations against racist rallies in Charlottesville, Virginia later that same year.