President Donald Trump said on Monday that he believes that he named Antifa, the left-wing anti-fascist group, previewing a plan to combat his plans to incite violence as a wide range of left-wing activists.
When asked whether to assign the family terrorism label to Antifa, he said: “This is what I want to do, yes,” he said, and if he finds support from cabinet officials and the Justice Department, he will move on.
It is unclear who or what Trump will designate? Antifa is a loosely organized movement without unique leaders, membership lists or structures.
But the president's open action underlined his intentions to quickly oppose his political opponents. People familiar with the discussion say Trump may immediately begin his campaign against the free organization this week as he hopes to engage in conservative anger over Charlie Kirk's killings to follow his rivals.
In addition to designating certain left-wing groups as terrorist groups, Trump said he is discussing allegations of blackmail against certain operations with his attorney general.
Trump has also raised the possibility of revoking tax-free status of free nonprofits, and his attorney general and senior advisers have raised the prospect of criminal charges against groups or individuals allegedly targeting conservatives.
The actions the president ultimately takes remain an open question. But the consultant said comprehensive management efforts are underway to identify groups targeting conservatives or promoting violence, with the aim of taking quick action.
When Trump leaves the UK for a state visit on Tuesday, team members are expected to continue these efforts in Washington, D.C. on a three-day trip. When he returns to the United States, Trump plans to speak at a memorial service Sunday in Kirk, Arizona.
Following Kirk's assassination, many government officials said they would incite violence with what they claimed to coordinate left-wing efforts. The moves have sparked protests from some Democrats who alleged that Trump is creating excuses to combat dissent or oppose views.
According to Utah Republican Gov. Spencer Cox, the suspects killed by Kirk possessed a “leftist ideology” but the motive for the assassination has not been unveiled. The administration has not yet provided evidence, and the 22-year-old accused gunman is talking to Trump that the group he is targeting may be affected by the group.
But the president appears to be aiming at the left-wing group, and his claim to have led to violence.
“Antifa is still awful. There are other groups,” he said in the Oval Office. “We have some very radical groups who escaped the murder,” he did not cite any evidence or elaboration.
Trump also said he had been discussing with Attorney General Pam Bondi, with the prospect of a racketeering charge against left-wing groups he claimed to be funding left-wing rickets.
He said: “I asked Pam to investigate from Rico, which is Rico's case.
Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller also spoke in the Oval Office, citing a “network of organizations” that he accused of rioting, specifically naming the “Black Lives Matter” demonstration.
Miller added: “The key the president has raised is that someone has paid the price for it. This is not happening for free, so the president's instructions to the Attorney General will find out who pays for it and now they will be responsible for the crime of violence.”
Bondy said Monday afternoon that the government will “target” people who use hate speech but designate “target” “this is in the aisle.”
Speaking to Katie Miller, a former adviser to the Elon Musk administration’s efficiency department, the Attorney General launched an attack on Pennsylvania’s Democratic state governor Josh Shapiro, in addition to Kirk, was condemned hate speech.
Miller asked Miller if he envisioned “hunting these groups that are using hate speech and putting cuffs on people,” Bondy said. “We will definitely aim at you, follow you, and if you target anyone who has hate speech, anything, anything, anything, that’s the aisle.”
“I mean, look at what's going on, think of Josh Shapiro,” Bondy said.
However, Trump has repeatedly said that political violence comes from the left, while underscribing instances of violent or violent rhetoric against the Democratic Party.
“The radical left has caused great violence and they seem to have done it in a bigger way,” he said.
Trump said why he did not lower the U.S. flag after the murder of Rep. Melissa Hortman, Democrat in Minnesota, Trump said if he was asked.
“I'll do that, but the governor of Minnesota didn't ask me,” he said. “I'll be happy to do it.”
Trump ordered flags to fly in half immediately after Kirk's kill.
Hortman and her husband were killed in a summer attack, something Walz called “political motive assassination.”
After the shooting, Trump refused to call the governor, who ran for condolences in the 2024 presidential vote, instead calling him a “beating” and suggesting that talking to him was unnecessary.
“I can be fine, call, but why waste time?” Trump said in June.
Walz spokesman Teddy Tschann responded to Trump’s remarks on Monday in a statement: “Governor Walz hopes that President Trump will become president of all Americans.”
Additional information has been updated on this story and title.
CNN's Arlette Saenz contributed to the report.