US President Donald Trump has said he will designate Antifa as a "major terrorist organisation" as part of his efforts to target the "radical left", following the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
In a post to his Truth Social platform, Trump called the group a "sick, dangerous, radical left disaster" and pledged that the group would be "thoroughly investigated". Antifa – a decentralised, leftist movement that opposes far-right, racist and fascist groups – has long attracted Trump's ire.
But experts have been quick to question how the president will actually target the group, which lacks a distinct leader, membership list or structure. In 2020, then-FBI Director Christopher Wray told Congress that Antifa was better defined as an ideology than as a formal organisation.
Antifa has remained a popular touchstone for some right-wing influencers and politicians who argue that it is a key component of a left-wing network they claim is seeking to undermine the US, free speech and gun rights.
Published: September 18, 2025 5:29 pm
Source: BBC — Read original