WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump says he is "designating" antifa as a major terrorist organization following the Sept. 10 slaying of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
But what is the anti-fascist movement, known collectively as antifa? And what does Trump designating a terrorist organization mean?
Authorities have not confirmed any direct links between Kirk’s accused killer, Tyler James Robinson, and antifa, which is more of a broad political concept than an actual organization with members, leadership or a headquarters that can be targeted, experts say.
But Trump, Attorney General Pam Bondi and other administration officials have repeatedly blamed left-leaning groups for stirring up hostility towards conservatives that they say contributed to Kirk's assassination. Although the investigation is ongoing, authorities have said Robinson expressed anti-fascist views and killed Kirk because he said he “had enough of his hatred.” (Many on the left have noted Kirk's statements such as lamenting the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and calling transgender people "a throbbing middle finger to God.")
Trump supporters praised his move. But critics – including some former counterterrorism officials and extremism experts − said it's an effort to undermine free speech protections and criminalize the actions of groups that oppose the president.
