Antifa labeled domestic terrorist group
An executive order directs federal investigation of a diffuse movement; legal scholars say US law has no domestic-terror designation mechanism.
Key facts
- EO signed September 22, 2025
- NSPM-7 targets "organized political violence"
- Scholars: no US law provides for domestic-terror designations
Summary
Trump signed an executive order designating "Antifa" a "domestic terrorist organization," followed by a national security memorandum directing federal investigation of "organized political violence." Legal scholars note US law has no domestic-terrorism designation mechanism and that Antifa is a movement, not an organization.
What happened
On September 22, 2025, Trump signed an executive order labeling Antifa a domestic terrorist organization, followed by National Security Presidential Memorandum 7 directing federal agencies to investigate and disrupt "organized political violence." Legal scholars noted that US law provides no statutory mechanism to designate a domestic group as terrorist, and that Antifa is a diffuse movement rather than a defined organization.
Impact on the United States
Directs federal investigative power against a loosely defined ideological category, threatening protesters, donors, and nonprofits with surveillance or prosecution and chilling lawful dissent and assembly.
Documented effects
Why this is rated severe
Directs federal investigative power at a loosely defined movement; legal scholars say US law provides no statutory mechanism to designate a domestic group as terrorist, and experts warned it could reach protected protest and association.
Corrections & updates [3]
Every change to a fact on this page after publication is logged here, newest first.
- CorrectedSource
Brennan Center source date corrected (published Oct. 9, 2025).[2]
- ClarifiedKey facts
The absence of a statutory domestic-terror designation mechanism is the assessment of legal scholars cited in the entry; the display copy now attributes it.[1][2]
- ClarifiedSeverity rationale
Attributed the 'no legal basis' point to legal scholars, as the entry does. Severity unchanged.
- Previously
- Federal investigative power aimed at an ideological category with no legal basis.
- Now
- Directs federal investigative power at a loosely defined movement; legal scholars say US law provides no statutory mechanism to designate a domestic group as terrorist, and experts warned it could reach protected protest and association.
Sources [3]
Image: Daderot, Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)