President Donald Trump announced his intention to designate Antifa as a foreign terrorist organization, intensifying his administration’s efforts against what he described as an international network of far-left extremists responsible for violence in U.S. cities. Speaking at a White House roundtable with independent journalists who have reported on Antifa, Trump indicated this move would escalate its current classification as a domestic extremist group.
During the discussion, Trump asked if the designation had been made before and received affirmation from attendees, including journalist Jack Posobiec. Turning to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump said, “We’ll take care of it.” White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller supported the idea, citing Antifa’s alleged foreign financial and operational ties in Western Europe and the Middle East, which U.S. intelligence agencies have reportedly monitored for months.
Trump’s announcement comes amid ongoing protests against immigration enforcement and National Guard deployments in cities such as Chicago and Portland—locations that have also experienced recurring Antifa activity. During the meeting, Trump heard firsthand accounts of demonstrations, including an incident where a journalist was arrested while covering an anti-ICE protest.
Posobiec warned of escalating politically motivated violence linked to Antifa, citing recent attacks and emphasizing the urgency of federal intervention. Trump pledged swift action, stating, “Antifa will be dealt with.”
If enacted, the designation would be unprecedented—marking the first time a domestic group is labeled a foreign terrorist organization, enabling sanctions and international investigations. Supporters argue it targets genuine threats, while critics caution it risks conflating domestic dissent with foreign terrorism. Trump was clear: “They’ve declared war on America. Now we’re declaring it back.”