Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Sep 18: In a controversial escalation of political rhetoric, US President Donald Trump on Thursday (IST) officially designated Antifa as a "major terrorist organisation" just days after the killing of his ally and prominent conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Announcing the move on his platform Truth Social, Trump wrote:
“I am pleased to inform our many USA Patriots that I am designating Antifa, a sick, dangerous, radical left disaster, as a major terrorist organisation. 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!”
The post did not outline any specific legal framework under which the designation would be applied, nor did it detail the mechanisms his administration would use to pursue action against Antifa or its supporters. Notably, Antifa is a loosely organised, leaderless left-wing movement, with no clear central structure, making such a designation legally and operationally ambiguous.
Trump's statement comes amid heightened tensions over political violence in the U.S., with the President laying blame squarely on the far left. In an interview with Fox News, Trump asserted:
“The radicals on the right oftentimes are radical because they don’t want to see crime. The radicals on the left are the problem, and they’re vicious, they’re horrible, and they’re politically savvy.”
The political temperature has further risen following the September 10 shooting of Charlie Kirk, who was fatally wounded while speaking at Utah Valley University. Kirk, aged 31, was shot in the neck and later died in hospital.
The primary accused in the killing, Tyler Robinson, has been charged with aggravated murder and six other counts by Utah prosecutors, who have announced their intent to pursue the death penalty.
Court documents reveal that Robinson’s mother told investigators her son had shifted politically in recent months, becoming more left-leaning and supportive of LGBTQ+ rights. She also stated that he had begun a relationship with his roommate — a biological male transitioning to become a woman.
While no formal link has been established between Robinson and Antifa, Trump has drawn a direct line between Kirk’s murder and what he calls “radical leftist violence.” However, critics argue that such framing risks politicising the tragedy and further polarising an already divided nation.
Charlie Kirk was best known as the founder of Turning Point USA (TPUSA), a conservative student organisation he launched in 2012 at just 18. Under his leadership, TPUSA expanded to over 800 chapters across American campuses, becoming a cornerstone in the movement to mobilise young conservative voters. The group was instrumental in rallying youth support for Trump’s 2024 re-election bid.
With this latest move, Trump appears poised to deepen the battle lines ahead of the 2025 political season — painting the left not just as an ideological adversary but a national security threat.