Power Grab/Fire anyone who can stop him
Trump designated “Antifa” a domestic terrorist organization by order, citing no statute
Federal law has no domestic-terrorist-organization designation comparable to the foreign terrorist list. Three days later Trump issued NSPM-7, directing a government-wide strategy against “domestic terrorism and organized political violence.”
What happened
On September 22, 2025, 12 days after the killing of Charlie Kirk, Trump signed an order titled “Designating Antifa as a Domestic Terrorist Organization.” It was published in the Federal Register on September 25. Section 1 calls Antifa a “militarist, anarchist enterprise” waging a nationwide “campaign of violence and terrorism.”
Section 2 orders every executive department and agency to use “all applicable authorities to investigate, disrupt, and dismantle” operations by Antifa “or any person claiming to act on behalf of Antifa.” That includes action against funders. The order cites no statute conferring authority to designate a domestic organization. Antifa is a loose label for an anti-fascist movement rather than an organization with members.
Three days later, Trump issued NSPM-7, directing a government-wide strategy against “domestic terrorism and organized political violence.” The Justice Department later issued a December 2025 memo implementing it.
Who benefited
The Justice Department and FBI gained a presidential predicate for opening investigations into protest networks, and later used NSPM-7 to organize a joint FBI–IRS effort against nonprofits. Trump gained a named enemy to attach to any left-wing protest. A label with no fixed membership can be applied as needed.
Who wanted something
Trump had promised the designation since 2020 and announced it after Kirk’s death. Stephen Miller said on Fox News on September 12 and on The Charlie Kirk Show on September 15 that the administration would use “every resource” to “dismantle” what he called a “vast domestic terror movement” on the left. The Justice Department, FBI and Treasury were tasked with carrying it out.
Who lost out
Activists, protesters and organizations can be swept in by “claiming to act on behalf of Antifa,” a phrase that covers anyone who identifies as anti-fascist. Donors to protest or legal-aid groups are named as targets. The order does not draw the line between violent crime and political association.
Why it matters
The president used an order with no statutory basis to brand a political tendency a terrorist organization and direct the entire executive branch against it and its funders. Because “Antifa” has no membership roll, the designation works as a standing authorization to treat protest as terrorism.
Sources Federal Register (primary)The White House (primary)NPRAl Jazeera