US President Trump said he describes the Antifa movement as a terrorist organization, in the context of a broader effort by his government to threaten liberal protesters after the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kerk, the New York Times notes.

Trump had made the same statement in May 2020, but nothing happened along the way. And there are significant and legal challenges for any government’s attempt to formally describe Antifa as a terrorist group.

What is antifa

It is a pervasive and sometimes violent culture of protesting far -right activists who want to stop the far -right. The movement is linked to an aggressive form of protest that its followers call “immediate action”, which can sometimes exceed boundaries and end up in illegal or violent activities, such as breaking of glass shops or the burning of police cars, the New York Times said.

“‘Antisa’ is an abbreviation of anti -fascist and is commonly used to refer to activists and protesters who support more direct methods of dealing with the far -right,” said Jarret Holt, an extremist researcher at Open Measures, a company that monitors the internet.

“Some who have self -proclaimed themselves have been involved in threatening or violent behaviors, but these individuals represent a small number of people who identify themselves with that term.”

Is Antifa really an organization?

No.

Antifa is a label for a political subculture or a style of protest. The phenomenon has no leader, initiation process, members, headquarters, bank account or central structure.

Cynthia Miller-Idriss, a professor at American University studying domestic extremism, said Antifa is an idea that can mobilize people. He compared it with concepts or ideologies such as “white superiority” and “Islamic extremism”, as opposed to specific groups such as Aryan Brotherhood or Al Qaeda.

“There may be small groups organized around Antifa in a neighborhood or community that meet and share this attitude, but it would be very difficult to see as connected to an organizational form that could be addressed,” he said, adding: “There is no expert I have heard.”

What did Trump say

He announced this decision on social media and threatened to investigate those who fund Antifa.

“I am happy to inform many US patriots that I define Antifa, a sick, dangerous, radical left disaster, as an important terrorist organization,” he wrote. “I will also propose to investigate thoroughly, in accordance with the highest legal standards and practices, those who finance Antifa,” he added.

Can America call domestic groups as terrorist?

No.

The federal law authorizes executive power to characterize foreign groups as “foreign terrorist organizations”. The law provides these groups the right to a hearing to question the characterization. If the characterization remains, this property allows the government to freeze the assets of these groups and makes a criminal offense to provide material support to them.

However, there is no corresponding law on domestic terrorism, as noted by Mary McCord, a former deputy head of the Directorate of National Security of the Ministry of Justice at the end of Obama’s term and in the first months of Trump’s first term.

“Trump can say whatever he wants, but there is no legal power to describe a domestic group as a terrorist organization, even if we assume that Antifa is an organization and not just an ideology,” he said. “This means that his statement has no legal impact. Certainly it does not cause criminal charges of terrorism, such as providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization, “he said.

Orban by Trump’s side

Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban said on Friday that Hungary would follow the example of US President Donald Trump and described Antifa as a terrorist organization, according to CNN.

Orban, who has weakened Hungary’s institutions during his 15 years in power, said he was “pleased” with Trump’s decision to classify Antifa as a “major terrorist organization” in the US and that Hungary will do the same.

“Antifa is a terrorist organization,” Orban said on state radio. “It is time for Hungary organizations such as Antifa as terrorist organizations, following the American example,” he said.

Orban, a proponent of what he calls “non -liberal democracy”, is often regarded as a source of inspiration for Trump’s policy. Orban has become the favorite of the Maga Conservatives, and the US president has praised him as a “very big leader” and a “very strong man”. While critics of the Trump government accuse the president of applying tactics used in Hungary, Orban’s announcement shows that the relationship can work in both directions.