Washington, D.C. — President Donald J. Trump on Tuesday announced the formal designation of Antifa as a domestic terrorist organization, framing the move as a necessary step to curb what he described as a growing wave of violence from the Radical Left.
“Antifa is not a protest movement — it is a network of violent extremists determined to undermine our government through chaos and terror,” Trump said. “This administration will not back down in the fight to protect Americans from politically motivated violence.”
The designation comes after years of incidents tied to Antifa-affiliated groups and other far-left extremists. Authorities have documented multiple attacks, ranging from assaults on federal officers to bomb plots and arson against political and religious institutions.
History of Antifa-Linked Violence
- July 2025: An Antifa cell ambushed officers at an ICE facility in Alvarado, Texas, defacing vehicles with anti-ICE graffiti before luring officers into an ambush. One officer was shot in the neck.
- July 2025: Federal agents at an ICE facility in Portland, Oregon, were assaulted with punches, kicks, and an incendiary device.
- February 2024: A transgender Antifa member detonated an explosive outside Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall’s office.
- March 2023: Radicals attacked a planned police training site in Atlanta with Molotov cocktails, booby traps, and fireworks.
- 2022–2023: Antifa-linked groups vandalized pregnancy resource centers, churches, and pro-life facilities, including arson attacks attributed to the group “Jane’s Revenge.”
- 2021–2020: Multiple Antifa-related attacks included pipe bomb plots, threats against police and Trump supporters, and the killing of a Patriot Prayer supporter in Portland.
- 2019: An armed Antifa member attacked an ICE facility in Tacoma, Washington, attempting to ignite a propane tank before being killed by police.
- 2017: Violent clashes erupted at conservative events in Berkeley, California, where Antifa groups threw rocks at police and attendees.
Broader Trend of Left-Wing Violence
The Trump administration has linked Antifa’s actions to a broader pattern of violence by far-left radicals over the past decade. Reported incidents include:
- The 2025 assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
- Firebombings of Tesla dealerships and widespread riots in Los Angeles.
- Attacks on ICE and Border Patrol officers, as well as arson targeting Republican Party offices in multiple states.
- A Minnesota church massacre in 2025, where a transgender assailant killed two children and injured 17 others.
- Two assassination attempts against Trump in 2024, one at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, and another in Palm Beach, Florida.
- A 2022 attempted assassination of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
- The 2017 shooting at a congressional baseball practice, which wounded Rep. Steve Scalise and others.
Officials say these incidents demonstrate a recurring pattern of violence directed at conservative leaders, institutions, and events. Trump has repeatedly argued that political rhetoric, media coverage, and the influence of well-funded activist organizations have fueled the escalation.
A Call for Leadership
In his remarks, Trump called the current moment one of “moral clarity,” urging leaders across the political spectrum to condemn violence without hesitation.
“This is not about politics — it’s about protecting our communities from extremists who want to burn down our country,” Trump said. “America needs courageous leadership, not silence in the face of radical violence.”
The Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security are expected to issue further guidance on enforcement measures following the Antifa designation.
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