Washington,September 18(HS): US President Donald Trump officially designated the left-wing activist collective Antifa as a major terrorist organisation on Thursday, signaling a renewed crackdown on far-left groups amid the fallout from the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump termed Antifa a sick, dangerous, radical left disaster and warned that individuals funding the group would face investigation under the highest legal standards.

Antifa, short for anti-fascists, is a loosely organized, leaderless coalition of militant activists who oppose racism, fascism, and far-right extremism, famously employing confrontational tactics in protests. Members often dress entirely in black and trace their ideological roots to anti-fascist movements opposing Nazi and fascist regimes before World War II.

In recent years, US Antifa prominence rose following violent clashes with white supremacist groups, including events in Charlottesville in 2017 and confrontations during far-right rallies. Despite Trump’s labeling, former FBI Director Christopher Wray previously stated that Antifa is an ideology rather than a formal organization, complicating the feasibility of its terrorist designation under US law.

Trump’s designation coincides with claims by White House officials that they will use federal powers, including racketeering laws, to dismantle left-wing groups accused of inciting political violence—a charge contested by Democratic leaders who accuse the administration of weaponizing law enforcement to silence dissent.

The assassination of Kirk and Trump’s aggressive stance on Antifa have further intensified the nation’s political polarization and sparked intense debate about free speech, domestic terrorism, and political violence in America.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar