Trump says he’ll designate antifa as a terrorist group but offers few details

WASHINGTON AP President Donald Trump revealed early Thursday that he plans to designate antifa as a major terrorist organization Antifa short for short for anti-fascists is an umbrella term for far-left-leaning militant groups and is not a singular entity They consist of groups that resist fascists and neo-Nazis especially at demonstrations It s unclear how the administration would label what is effectively a decentralized movement as a terrorist organization and the White House on Wednesday did not forthwith offer more details Trump who is on a state visit to the United Kingdom made the announcement in a social media post shortly before a m Thursday local time He called antifa a SICK DANGEROUS RADICAL LEFT TRAGEDY He also revealed he will be strongly recommending that funders of antifa be investigated Trump s previous FBI director Christopher Wray revealed in testimony in that antifa is an ideology not an organization lacking the hierarchical structure that would usually allow it to be designated as a terror group by the federal regime After Trump s post Sen Bill Cassidy R-La praised the announcement saying Antifa seized upon a movement of legitimate grievances to promote violence and anarchy working against justice for all The President is right to recognize the destructive role of Antifa by designating them domestic terrorists In July Cassidy and Sen Ted Cruz R-Texas introduced a resolution in the Senate to condemn the violent acts of antifa and to designate the group a domestic terror organization