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The US President declared Thursday morning that he aims to label antifa as a “major terrorist organization”.

Understanding Is Antifa?

Antifa, which is “anti-fascists,” refers to a broad term for far-left-leaning advocacy movements. Rather than being a single entity, but includes various networks that resist far-right extremists, notably during protests.

Procedural and Governmental Challenges

It is still unclear in what manner the administration could formally designate what is largely a decentralized activist network as a extremist group. Administration officials did not immediately offer additional information on Wednesday.

The movement is a domestic phenomenon and, therefore, is ineligible for the State Department’s database of international extremist groups. This registry contains multiple groups, like ISIL and al-Qaeda.

Currently, the US lacks a domestic equivalent due in part to strong First Amendment rights granted to organizations functioning inside the US. Despite repeated demands, particularly following violent incidents perpetrated by far-right militants, to enact a homegrown terror statute, no such law has been passed.

Trump’s Statements

President Trump, who is on a diplomatic tour to the United Kingdom, issued the statement via a social media post around 1:30 AM this past Thursday. He called antifa as a “DANGEROUS, EXTREMIST, LEFT-WING CATASTROPHE”. He also mentioned that he will be “firmly advising” that funders of antifa be looked into.

While speaking with the press in the presidential office earlier this week, Trump said that he would pursue a national terror classification for antifa on condition that such a move had the backing of the attorney general and officials within his cabinet.

“It’s something I am willing to do, indeed,” the president stated. “I am committed to that 100%. Antifa is terrible.”

Political Responses

Late Wednesday, Bill Cassidy, commended the president’s decision, saying: “Antifa exploited a campaign of valid concerns to encourage chaos and lawlessness, undermining justice for all. Trump is right to acknowledge the harmful impact of antifa by labeling them as national security threats.”

In July 2019, Cassidy and Senator Ted Cruz proposed a measure in the US Senate to censure the destructive actions of antifa and to designate the movement a domestic terror organization.

Historical Context

Last year, amid the national demonstrations, Trump previously raised the concept of classifying antifa as a terror organization.

The president’s previous top FBI official, Christopher Wray, said publicly that the antifa movement is an political philosophy, rather than a structured group, lacking the centralized framework that would usually allow it to be designated as a terror group by the federal government.