Overview
- The White House said the order labels Antifa an anarchic, militarist effort that seeks to overthrow the U.S. government and uses illegal tactics to wage nationwide violence.
- Federal agencies are directed to pursue investigations, arrests and actions against financiers and supporters using existing counterterrorism authorities.
- Analysts note that Antifa functions as a decentralized umbrella label without leaders, headquarters or seizable assets, complicating targeted enforcement.
- The move revives a pledge Trump first voiced in 2020 and follows heightened pressure after the September killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
- Press secretary Karoline Leavitt cited what she called a rise in Antifa-linked violence and criticized the media and the prior administration for downplaying the threat.