By: Fern Sidman

President Donald Trump, speaking after midnight on Sept. 18 during his state visit to the United Kingdom, announced that his administration will formally designate Antifa as a terrorist organization—a move long debated in Washington and now reignited by the political assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk.

“I am pleased to inform our many U.S.A. Patriots that I am designating ANTIFA, A SICK, DANGEROUS, RADICAL LEFT DISASTER, AS A MAJOR TERRORIST ORGANIZATION,” the president posted on Truth Social. “We will also be strongly recommending that anyone funding this group be investigated.”

The Epoch Times reported on Thursday that the declaration marks one of the most forceful steps yet by the Trump administration to criminalize a movement that has been blamed for years of violent demonstrations, vandalism, and intimidation campaigns across American cities. The announcement, delivered while Trump and the first lady were in Windsor meeting members of Britain’s royal family, reverberated quickly across both the U.S. and Europe.

The president’s move came just days after 22-year-old Tyler Robinson allegedly gunned down Kirk in Utah. Prosecutors say Robinson was radicalized by extreme leftist ideology, and investigators discovered anti-fascist slogans etched into the bullets he carried. Though the FBI has not yet confirmed direct organizational ties between Robinson and Antifa chapters, the symbolism was not lost on administration officials.

The Epoch Times report noted that Antifa activists gathered outside Windsor Castle during Trump’s visit, chanting the chilling refrain “Charlie’s in a box,” mocking the conservative leader’s death. For Trump, this grotesque demonstration underscored what he has described as the group’s descent into “anti-American nihilism.”

On Monday, ahead of the announcement, Trump hinted at the designation, telling reporters that “Antifa is terrible” and that he would move forward with the terrorist label if he had support from his team. Standing with him was Attorney General Pam Bondi, who has been tasked with shaping the legal architecture around the designation.

While critics have dismissed Antifa as a loose collection of activists with no formal leadership structure, The Epoch Times has frequently traced its origins back to communist and anarchist movements of the early 20th century.

Scholars note that the group’s ideological foundations were laid during the Soviet Comintern’s “united front” strategy of 1921. Moscow encouraged revolutionary groups to brand all rivals as “fascists” while uniting disparate left-wing organizations to advance communism. Bernd Langer’s 80 Years of Anti-Fascist Action describes how the Communist Party of Germany used these tactics to destabilize Weimar institutions.

The Epoch Times has emphasized that Antifa’s modern incarnations, while often cloaked in the language of “anti-fascism,” are deeply rooted in these same radical leftist traditions. In the United States, the group gained a fresh foothold after Trump’s first election in 2016, escalating its presence during campus protests and later during the violent unrest following George Floyd’s death in 2020.

Trump previously floated the idea of labeling Antifa a terrorist organization in May 2020, as riots engulfed Minneapolis and other major cities. At the time, Attorney General William Barr pointed to Antifa elements fueling violence during demonstrations. Yet former FBI Director Christopher Wray took a softer stance, testifying before Congress that Antifa was more of a “movement or ideology” than a centralized organization.

Still, intelligence analysts at the bipartisan Center for Strategic and International Studies have warned that Antifa adherents are driven by an anarcho-communist worldview and frequently use violence as a tactic to achieve their ends. Their hallmark “black bloc” attire—black clothing, masks, and helmets—serves both to conceal identities and create an intimidating uniform.

Under U.S. law, a domestic group may be designated as a terrorist organization if it engages in violent criminal acts to further political, religious, or social goals. The Epoch Times explained that such a designation carries significant implications: it enables federal agencies to more aggressively investigate, prosecute, and financially cripple affiliated individuals or networks.

Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) praised the decision, 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.”

By contrast, progressive critics argue that Trump is weaponizing the label to silence dissent. Yet even some centrist Democrats have privately acknowledged, according to the report in The Epoch Times, that Antifa’s tactics—ranging from property destruction to physical assaults on political opponents—fall well outside the norms of protest.

The timing of Trump’s announcement during his U.K. visit added symbolic weight. Antifa networks have operated not only in the U.S. but also across Europe, where they trace their lineage more directly to communist militias of the 20th century. In London, the group’s demonstration during Trump’s Windsor stop highlighted its international footprint and coordination.

Turning Point UK, an affiliate of Kirk’s organization, condemned the chants outside Windsor Castle: “These societal outcasts are so removed from reality they think it’s funny to laugh at patriots being horrifically murdered.”

For The Epoch Times, which has extensively covered Antifa’s cross-border activities, the Windsor protest illustrates how ideological extremism travels fluidly across continents, sustained by online echo chambers and transnational funding streams.

Indeed, Trump’s announcement did not merely target Antifa activists but also their financial backers. “Anyone funding the group will be investigated,” he warned.

The Epoch Times has reported for years on questions surrounding who bankrolls Antifa’s organizing efforts, training camps, and travel stipends. While definitive answers remain elusive, the new designation would give federal investigators broader latitude to trace financial pipelines—potentially ensnaring nonprofits, NGOs, or individual donors who have provided cover or resources.

Robinson’s assassination of Kirk has become a flashpoint. The Epoch Times report emphasized that investigators found Robinson engraved anti-fascist slogans onto his bullets, a chilling indication of ideological intent.

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox and FBI officials have already stated that Robinson adhered to “leftist ideology” and had radicalized in recent years. While the direct organizational tie remains unproven, the symbolic link between Antifa’s rhetoric and Robinson’s crime is evident.

Trump seized on this in London, declaring that Antifa is no longer a fringe nuisance but “a major terrorist threat undermining American stability.”

The decision to designate Antifa as a terrorist organization comes at a politically charged moment, less than two months before the U.S. midterm elections. For Trump’s supporters, it signals decisive action against a movement they see as emblematic of left-wing lawlessness. For his critics, it raises concerns about the erosion of civil liberties.

The Epoch Times report noted that Attorney General Bondi is expected to roll out specific legal measures in the coming weeks, though the administration has not yet detailed the timeline for the designation’s enforcement.

Trump’s midnight declaration in Windsor represents more than just a symbolic rebuke of Antifa. It reflects a broader strategy to confront what The Epoch Times has consistently described as a radical leftist insurgency—one that has used intimidation, violence, and ideological fervor to destabilize American civic life.

Whether the terrorist designation results in prosecutions, funding crackdowns, or simply a heightened political debate, it marks a watershed in how the U.S. government approaches domestic extremist groups.

As The Epoch Times report observed, Trump has long cast himself as a defender of law and order. In formally designating Antifa as terrorists, he has made clear that his administration views their ideology not as dissent, but as a domestic menace with international echoes.

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By: Fern Sidman

As world leaders converge on New York City for the annual United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), a coalition of radical anti-Israel groups is mobilizing a series of demonstrations that observers warn could escalate into explicit antisemitic rhetoric and intimidation of Jewish New Yorkers.

According to a report that appeared on Wednesday at The Algemeiner, the protests are timed to coincide with speeches by Middle Eastern leaders, as well as appearances by  President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Organizers are promoting the events on social media as an opportunity to pressure the international community to condemn Israel’s military campaign against Hamas in Gaza, but the language used in promotional materials and past actions by these groups has raised serious concerns about the protests spiraling beyond legitimate political dissent.

The rhetoric previewing the protests has already veered into dangerous territory. On Sunday, demonstrators hurled insults at Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, shouting: “Zionism is terrorism. All you guys are terrorists committing ethnic cleansing and genocide in Gaza and Palestine. Shame on you, Zionist animals.”

As The Algemeiner report indicated, this language mirrors age-old antisemitic tropes that dehumanize Jews and portray Israel as uniquely malevolent, laying the groundwork for harassment and violence under the guise of political protest.

Further amplifying fears, the radical activist collective INDECLINE staged a grotesque stunt outside the UN last week, in which masked protesters kicked a lifelike replica of Netanyahu’s decapitated head as though it were a soccer ball. The spectacle, widely condemned across the political spectrum, drew attention to how protest theater can blur into incitement.

The most prominent organizer of this year’s UNGA demonstrations is Within Our Lifetime (WOL), a Brooklyn-based group that has emerged as one of the most vocal and radical anti-Israel entities in the United States. WOL has pledged to “flood” the UN with pro-Hamas, pro-terror demonstrators, declaring: “This is the time to make our voices impossible to ignore. Come to New York by any means necessary, to stand, to march, to demand the UN act and end the siege.”

As The Algemeiner report has documented, WOL sparked outrage earlier this year when it led a protest against an exhibition commemorating the victims of the Oct. 7 Hamas massacre at Israel’s Nova Music Festival. During that event, demonstrators shouted slogans such as “Resistance is justified when people are occupied!” and “Israel, go to hell!”—statements widely interpreted as endorsements of terrorist violence.

Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) and the Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM) are also co-organizers of a large march scheduled for Friday, stretching from Times Square to UN headquarters. Both groups have long been accused of whitewashing terrorism while presenting themselves as progressive advocacy organizations.

The Algemeiner has repeatedly chronicled JVP’s track record of excusing antisemitic rhetoric under the cover of “Palestinian liberation.” The organization has defended Hamas’s Oct. 7 atrocities as “resistance,” distributed literature discouraging Jews from using Hebrew liturgy, and urged activists to support groups explicitly committed to Israel’s destruction.

PYM, meanwhile, has been linked to increasingly militant rhetoric. Just weeks ago, The Algemeiner noted that Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) called for a federal investigation into PYM after one of its leaders, Aisha Nizar, urged followers to sabotage the U.S. supply chain for F-35 fighter jets—a direct assault on a cornerstone of American and Israeli defense cooperation.

The Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) issued a stark warning on its website that the planned demonstrations risk crossing the line from political protest into hate speech. “Anti-Israel activists are attempting to hijack the UN gathering to spread antisemitism and delegitimize the Jewish state’s right to exist,” CAM cautioned.

The group emphasized that events like these often serve as platforms for rhetoric that quickly spills into harassment of Jewish students, worshippers, and pedestrians in New York. The concern is not hypothetical. As The Algemeiner has repeatedly documented, previous anti-Israel protests in Manhattan have devolved into chants calling for the eradication of Israel, assaults on visibly Jewish bystanders, and vandalism of synagogues and community centers.

The UN General Assembly has historically served as a flashpoint for demonstrations tied to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. From pro-Israel rallies championing solidarity with the Jewish state to anti-Israel protests portraying Israel as a pariah, the annual gathering attracts activists seeking the global spotlight.

Yet this year, the tone appears especially volatile. The Algemeiner report emphasized that the imagery of Netanyahu’s decapitated head and chants calling Zionists “animals” illustrate a willingness among some demonstrators to blur the boundary between anti-Israel protest and antisemitic incitement.

That danger is heightened by the UNGA’s sheer scale: thousands of journalists, diplomats, and activists from around the world descend on Manhattan, magnifying both the visibility and potential volatility of protest actions.

Jewish communal organizations are preparing for what many fear will be a hostile atmosphere in Midtown Manhattan during UNGA week. The Algemeiner reported that synagogues and Jewish community centers in the area have already tightened security, while advocacy groups are urging members to report harassment and avoid confrontation with demonstrators.

CAM has even launched a new mobile app, Report It, designed to allow users worldwide to quickly and securely document antisemitic incidents in real time. The app reflects growing recognition that incidents can escalate quickly during mass protests and that data collection is essential for law enforcement and advocacy.

The rhetoric of these groups reveals a consistent pattern: delegitimizing Israel’s existence, excusing terrorism, and portraying Jewish identity itself as a provocation.

As The Algemeiner report observed in its coverage of JVP, the group’s ideological framework positions Jews who support Israel as “complicit in oppression” and therefore as legitimate targets of condemnation. Similarly, PYM’s advocacy of sabotage against U.S. military supply chains shows how anti-Israel activism increasingly bleeds into calls for direct action against American interests.

Such rhetoric emboldens individuals on the fringes, raising the risk of intimidation or violence against Jewish residents of New York. The recent assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk by a gunman espousing leftist ideology only underscores the volatility of this moment, and the way radical movements can inspire individuals to deadly action.

JVP and PYM have framed their upcoming march as a demand for international action against Israel. “The time is now for each and every UN member state to uphold their duty under international law: sanction Israel and end the genocide,” the groups said in a joint statement.

But as The Algemeiner report noted, such rhetoric often glosses over the reality that these groups not only oppose specific Israeli policies but Israel’s very right to exist. By calling for “ending the siege” and “upholding international law” without condemning Hamas’s atrocities, they create an atmosphere where antisemitism can flourish under the guise of human rights advocacy.

As the UN General Assembly convenes, the streets of New York City are once again poised to become a stage for the world’s most polarizing debates over Israel and the Middle East. Yet for Jewish New Yorkers and their allies, the prospect of demonstrations dominated by groups such as WOL, JVP, and PYM is less about free expression and more about potential harassment and intimidation.

The Algemeiner report stressed that while political protest is a cornerstone of democratic society, the line is crossed when demonstrators use antisemitic slurs, glorify terrorism, or brandish violent imagery. The events of the coming days will test not only New York’s ability to manage mass demonstrations but also its resilience against a rising tide of antisemitism masquerading as activism.

For now, the Jewish community braces for a fraught week in Manhattan, one where global diplomacy inside the UN will be matched by rancorous protests outside—protests that many fear could reveal the enduring and ugly intersection between anti-Israel ideology and antisemitic hate.

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