DONALD Trump has vowed to designate Antifa a “major terrorist organisation” a week on from the assassination of Charlie Kirk.
The US President described the group as a “sick, dangerous, radical left disaster” as he ranted on Truth Social while on a state visit to the UK.
APDonald Trump has vowed to designate Antifa a ‘major terrorist organisation’[/caption]
GettyMasked members of Antifa are closely guarded by members of the Portland Police in full riot gear after a 2018 protest[/caption]
GettyCharlie Kirk was assassinated on September 10 by a suspected killer with anti-fascist views[/caption]
One of the main reasons for Trump’s firm condemnation of the anti-fascist group is the murder of his friend and political activist Charlie Kirk.
The MAGA ally was shot dead by a sniper as he held an event at a university campus in Utah.
Investigators believe the suspected killer, Tyler Robinson, 22, held similar views to Antifa after an engraving on one of his bullets read: “Hey fascist, catch.”
Authorities have labelled Kirk’s tragic death a political assassination.
Trump announced his plans to label Antifa a terror group on Truth Social late on Wednesday.
He wrote: “I am pleased to inform our many USA Patriots that I am designating Antifa, a sick, dangerous, radical left disaster, as a major terrorist organization.
“I will also be strongly recommending that those funding Antifa be thoroughly investigated in accordance with the highest legal standards and practices.”
Antifa, short for anti-fascist, is a political group which has gained traction in the US in recent years and caught the eye of Trump in the past.
During his first stint in the White House he mentioned making Antifa a terror group after protests erupted across the US in the wake of George Floyd‘s murder.
Trump blamed the group for violence across the country following the death of Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis.
He was quickly put off the idea by his former FBI director Christopher Wray who said Antifa are an ideology rather than an organised group.
There is no unifying body for the anti-fascist movement or a leader in charge of the members.
This would make designating them as a terrorist group tricky to police.
What is Antifa and what does it stand for?
Antifa is an umbrella term for a broad spectrum of far-left and anarchist groups.
The term itself means simply anti-fascist.
Antifa has been around for decades but was fueled by the election of Donald Trump as president and a spate of police brutality across the US.
It is believed that the group dates back to the 1920s when members fought against European fascists.
The modern American Antifa movement began in the 1980s.
Texas Senator Ted Cruz strongly condemned the violent acts of Antifa in 2019 as he called for the group to be designated a domestic terror organisation.
Cruz said in a statement: “Antifa is a group of hateful, intolerant radicals who pursue their unhinged agenda through aggressive violence.
“Time and time again their actions have demonstrated that their only purpose is to inflict harm on those who oppose their views.
“The hate and violence they spread must be stopped, and I am proud to introduce this resolution with Senator Cassidy to properly identify what Antifa are: domestic terrorists.”
FBITyler Robinson is suspected of shooting Charlie Kirk[/caption]
Rex FeaturesAntifa, short for anti-fascist, is a political group which has gained traction in the US in recent years and caught the eye of Trump in the past[/caption]
GettyAnti-fascist groups burn an American flag on the steps of the Colorado State Capitol on January 20, 2021[/caption]
The US President declared the move in a Truth Social post Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
