Trump instructs Secretary of State Pompeo to consider classifying Antifa terror group
Donald Trump has ordered Mike Pompeo to consider classifying Antifa as a terrorist group to prevent its ‘members’ from entering the country.
In a letter to the Secretary of State, Trump says that Antifa has been responsible for ‘recent lawlessness,’ citing riots in Louisville, Kentucky and Portland, and says it has ‘exploited tragedies to advance a radical, leftist, anarchist, and often violent agenda.’
Trump says he wants to restrict the movements of any migrants associated with Antifa, ‘in light of federal laws that restrict the entry of aliens associated with terrorist organisations.’
Tuesday’s executive order comes as hundreds of right-wing rioters have descended on Washington ahead of Congress voting to affirm the Electoral College vote 306-232 victory of Joe Biden in the presidential election.
Last night, Trump took to Twitter to boast about the crowds of his supporters arriving in the capital as they chanted ‘f**k Antifa’ during clashes with counter-protesters and the police.
Members of Antifa hold shields during a protest at Black Lives Matter Plaza on December 12, 2020 in Washington, DC, as thousands refused to accept the result of November’s general election
An injured Trump supporter is helped after a clash with counter-protesters on Tuesday in DC
Trump supporters were gathered by the BLM Plaza to protest antifa in Washington D.C, United States on January 05, 2021
He wrote: ‘Washington is being inundated with people who don’t want to see an election victory stolen by emboldened Radical Left Democrats. Our Country has had enough, they won’t take it anymore! We hear you (and love you) from the Oval Office. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!’
Shortly afterwards, he warned Antifa to stay out of Washington.
‘Antifa is a Terrorist Organization, stay out of Washington. Law enforcement is watching you very closely!’ The president tweeted.
It’s not clear what the effect of Trump’s memorandum to Pompeo will be as it only advises him to review certain criteria.
Trump writes: ‘The Secretary of State shall, in consultation with the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security, review information received from the Department of Justice and other authorities to assess whether to classify Antifa as a terrorist organization under section 1182(a)(3)(B)(vi) of title 8, United States Code.’
In September, FBI director Chris Wray told Congress that Antifa was an ideology rather than an organisation.
However, Trump’s letter notes that the Justice Department has already deemed ‘that actions by Antifa and similar groups meet the standard for domestic terrorism.’
As examples the president cites the actions of black-clad demonstrators who violently assaulted MAGA brigades at protests in Berkely, California, in February and August 2017.
He says that 50 criminals ‘contributed to an estimated $100,000 worth of property damage,’ adding that Antifa’s actions ‘resulted in 13 arrests on a range of charges, including assault with a deadly weapon and obstructing a police officer.’
Crowds of Trump supporters gathered in Washington DC on Tuesday night
Police set up cordons to try and separate Trump supporters from counter-protesters on Tuesday night
He also lists the attack on conservative journalist Andy Ngo when he was covering protests in Portland, Oregon, in June, 2019.
Ngo was hospitalised after being attacked by rioters who were counter-protesting the Proud Boys – a milita-style right-wing group which is today on the streets of DC to protest Biden’s election.
Trump also notes last year’s riots by Antifa who have been widely accused of seizing on the Black Lives Matter movement to further their own divisive Anarcho-Communist agenda.
Later today the president is expected to speak to crowds at ‘Stop the Steal’ rally a few blocks away from the White House while lawmakers verify the results of November’s general election.
Many businesses in downtown Washington boarded up their windows, fearful that the protest could devolve into the unrest seen in May and June when dozens of businesses were vandalized.
District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser called in National Guard troops to help bolster the city’s police force.
A Trump supporter is seen recovering from being tear gassed as protests turned violent
Trump fans braved the cold on Tuesday night to show their support for the president
Police and protesters scuffled on the streets of Washington DC on Tuesday night
She urged residents to stay away from downtown Washington and to avoid confrontations with anyone who is ‘looking for a fight.’
But, she warned, ‘we will not allow people to incite violence, intimidate our residents or cause destruction in our city.’
Election officials from both political parties, governors in key battleground states and Trump’s former attorney general, William Barr, have said there was no widespread fraud in the election.
Nearly all the legal challenges from Trump and his allies have been dismissed by judges, including two challenges rejected by the Supreme Court.
