Trump designates Antifa a domestic terrorist group, vows RICO probes

President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that he is designating the loosely organized antifascist movement known as Antifa as a domestic terrorist organization and will pursue investigations, including racketeering charges, against those he says bankroll leftwing agitation. The move followed last week’s assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, which the White House said has underscored a rise in political violence.

Speaking in the Oval Office and posting on his social platform, Trump described Antifa as “a sick, dangerous, radical left disaster” and said, “It’s something I would do, yeah,” when asked about assigning a domestic terrorism label. He said he has discussed bringing RICO prosecutions with the attorney general and that “they should be put in jail,” and he urged probes into people and groups he accused of funding violent activity. Deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller told reporters the administration will work to identify who is paying for what he characterized as an “organized campaign” of violence and hold them criminally liable.

Administration officials have linked the announcement to last week’s killing of Kirk and identified the suspect, 22-year-old...