President Donald Trump’s recent labeling of Antifa as a “major terrorist organization” has significantly increased political unrest in the United States. His statement, delivered on Truth Social, also urged investigations into the funding of the group. This announcement came in the wake of the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, which has heightened existing ideological clashes.
Antifa, short for “anti-fascist,” is a decentralized network of activists and militants united in their opposition to fascism, racism, nationalist ideologies, white supremacy, and right-wing politics. Rather than a structured organization, Antifa functions as a collection of independent groups with no centralized authority. The majority of its members hold left-wing beliefs, including anarchist and communist ideologies.
Historically, Antifa’s roots are tied to movements that fought against authoritarianism and white nationalism. Today, it actively combats right-wing extremism, authoritarianism, homophobia, anti-immigration sentiments, and racism. Many Antifa adherents also reject capitalism and are critical of current government structures.
Antifa rose to prominence during the Black Lives Matter protests that began in 2020 following the police killing of George Floyd. Although most protests were peaceful, instances of violence, vandalism, and looting occurred in certain areas. Since then, Antifa has often been blamed by both politicians and the media for these incidents.
Antifa is not a formal organization but a broad ideological movement composed of various independent groups and individuals. Coordination is typically achieved through social media and encrypted chat applications. Trump’s recent actions, happening amid national tensions stemming from the murder of Charlie Kirk, could further polarize the political landscape.