Trump Signs Executive Order Targeting Antifa as ‘Terrorist Organization’

By Trevor Hunnicutt and Jana Winter — Washington, September 22, 2025

U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order formally designating the antifa movement as a “terrorist organization,” marking a sharp escalation in his administration’s campaign against left-wing groups.

The move follows the September 10 assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, a close Trump ally, who was killed while speaking at a Utah college. Authorities have charged a 22-year-old student with Kirk’s murder, though investigators have not linked the suspect to any political group. Still, the White House has pointed to Kirk’s death as justification for reviving plans to target antifa.

What the Order Says

The 370-word executive order instructs federal departments and agencies to “investigate, disrupt, and dismantle any and all illegal operations” tied to antifa or its supporters. Officials say it will empower investigators to:

• Track finances and subpoena bank records

• Investigate domestic and foreign sources of funding

• Conduct enhanced surveillance of suspected networks

A Justice Department official, speaking anonymously, said the designation “unlocks expansive investigative and surveillance authorities” that go beyond traditional law enforcement tools.

Who is Antifa?

Antifa — short for “anti-fascist” — is not a structured group but rather a loosely organized movement of individuals and networks. According to the Anti-Defamation League, while some affiliated activists have engaged in vandalism or violence at rallies, such actions are “not the norm.”

Criticism and Legal Concerns

Civil liberties advocates and legal experts have blasted the order as unconstitutional, warning that it could:

• Threaten free speech by criminalizing dissent

• Target political opponents under the guise of counterterrorism

• Violate longstanding norms that restrict the government from labeling domestic groups as terrorist organizations

Critics also highlight that federal law enforcement agencies have consistently identified far-right violence as the leading driver of domestic extremist attacks, not left-wing movements.

Political Implications

Trump administration officials insist that the move is aimed at protecting Americans from political violence. A White House source said the focus is on tracking “foreign money seeding U.S. politics.”

However, this marks at least the third attempt by Trump to brand antifa a terrorist organization — previous efforts during his first term faltered under legal scrutiny.

Whether the courts will uphold the new designation remains uncertain, but the executive order underscores Trump’s strategy of rallying supporters around law-and-order themes while framing political opponents as threats.