President Trump signed an executive order Monday labeling antifa a “domestic terrorist organization” — though the move’s legal impact is unclear.
The executive order directs Trump administration officials to investigate and thwart “any and all illegal operations” allegedly carried out by antifa members, and to pursue people who “fund such operations” or provide material support to them.
The president promised to designate antifa as a “major terrorist organization” last week in the wake of the assassination of Charlie Kirk, although officials have not said there was a link between his killing and any left-wing groups.
It’s not clear what happens next. Antifa, short for anti-fascist, typically refers to a loose affiliation of mostly left-wing activists, and isn’t generally considered to be an organized group with a clear leadership structure. And the U.S. doesn’t have a statute that gives the president the power to designate domestic groups as terrorist organizations or charge people with domestic terrorism, legal experts told CBS News last week.
This is a breaking story; it will be updated.
