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President Donald Trump said on Monday that he is “100 percent” in favor of designating Antifa as a domestic terror organization, citing a rise in leftist violence that has escalated in recent weeks.
Asked in the Oval Office whether he would take that step following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, Trump replied, “I would do that 100% and others also, by the way, but Antifa, is terrible.”
Trump suggested he may also consider other groups, but declined to identify them by name. He said he has discussed the possibility of bringing federal racketeering charges under the RICO statute against organizations and donors who fund unrest with Attorney General Pam Bondi.
“There are other groups, yeah, there are other groups. We have some pretty radical groups, and they got away with murder. And also, I’ve been speaking to the Attorney General about bringing RICO against some of the people that you’ve been reading about that have been putting up millions and millions of dollars for agitation,” Trump said.
“These are protests. These are crimes. What they’re doing, where they’re throwing bricks at the cars of ICE and border patrol,” the president continued.
Antifa, short for “anti-fascist,” is a loosely organized leftist movement that has established a presence in cities across the United States, particularly in the Pacific Northwest. It has been responsible for violent protests in recent years, including clashes involving government property.
The remarks were made during an event where Trump declared a state of emergency in Memphis, Tennessee.
“The city, a beacon of American culture that was Elvis’s home and is often called the birthplace of rock and roll and the blues, should be safe and secure for all of its citizens and Americans who visit its historic landmarks such as Graceland, Beale Street, and the Memphis Pyramid,” the order reads.
“To restore public safety and order, State and local leaders have requested Federal assistance, and I will act quickly to ensure that Federal authorities assist Memphis law enforcement to the fullest possible extent,” the order added.