WASHINGTON, D.C. – President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday, September 22, 2025, formally designating the militant left-wing movement Antifa as a domestic terrorist organization. The order mandates federal agencies, including the Department of Justice, the FBI, and the Department of Homeland Security, to prioritize investigations into the group and utilize available resources to disrupt its activities.
The executive order characterizes Antifa as a “militaristic anarchist enterprise” whose stated goal is the overthrow of the U.S. government through violent means. The administration’s move comes in the wake of the assassination of prominent conservative activist Charlie Kirk on September 17. While law enforcement sources note that bullet casings recovered at the scene were inscribed with Antifa slogans, no confirmed organizational link between the suspected shooter and the group has been established.
The decision was immediately praised by Trump’s allies. Former senior advisor Stephen Miller posted on X, “We will dismantle Antifa,” echoing the administration’s firm stance. The official Trump-aligned account “Rapid Response 47” also announced the order, calling it a decisive step toward national security.
However, the executive action has drawn swift criticism from legal experts and civil liberties organizations. They point to a significant legal hurdle: unlike foreign entities, there is no formal statutory framework for designating domestic groups as terrorist organizations. This raises immediate questions about the order’s enforceability and what specific new powers it grants to federal agencies.
Furthermore, critics warn that the broad designation could lead to violations of First Amendment rights, potentially targeting individuals based on political beliefs or association rather than criminal acts.
The situation remains fluid as federal agencies begin to interpret the order.
