President Donald Trump on Wednesday pledged to use the full authority of the federal government to pursue antifa following a White House roundtable that focused on political violence and threats from left-wing groups.
The session, convened in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination, highlighted administration plans to investigate funding sources, networks and structures that officials say enable politically motivated violence.
“They have been very threatening to people, but we’re going to be threatening to them, far more threatening to them than they ever were with us, and that includes the people that fund them,” Trump said Wednesday.
“We’re going to be looking very strongly at the people funding these operations.”
Trump: “They have been very threatening to people, but we’re going to be very threatening to them, far more threatening to them than they ever were with us, and that includes the people that fund them…If they do, they’re in deep trouble, so we’re going to be looking very… pic.twitter.com/xcGZN0D00Y
— The Bulwark (@BulwarkOnline) October 8, 2025
Trump’s remarks came as the administration pressed prior actions it has taken against antifa.
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Last month, the president designated antifa as a terrorist organization and directed executive departments to “utilize all applicable authorities to investigate, disrupt, and dismantle any and all illegal operations” connected to the movement.
He later signed a presidential memorandum that included a call for a revised enforcement approach.
That memorandum stated that “a new law enforcement strategy that investigates all participants in these criminal and terroristic conspiracies, including the organized structures, networks, entities, organizations, funding sources, and predicate actions behind them, is required.”
It directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to prioritize domestic terrorism prosecutions tied to politically motivated acts including doxing campaigns, swatting, rioting, looting, trespass, assault, destruction of property, threats of violence, and civil disorder.
The memorandum also instructed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, in his role as acting Internal Revenue Service commissioner, to identify financial networks and ensure tax-exempt organizations are not indirectly or directly funding political violence.
At the roundtable, Trump asked conservative and independent reporters in attendance to share first-hand accounts of violent encounters they said they had with alleged antifa members.
He asked participants to name the mainstream outlets they regarded as least reliable.
The alleged reference to anti-fascist ideology by the suspect in the Kirk case — including an unfired bullet casing inscribed “Hey fascist! Catch!” — has been cited by the administration as further reason to pursue broader enforcement against associated networks.
The White House event also coincided with federal deployments to cities grappling with unrest and crime.
The administration’s deployment of National Guard troops to Chicago is moving forward over objections from local officials.
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson have challenged the deployment in federal court; a hearing on the state’s request for a temporary restraining order was scheduled after U.S. District Judge April Perry declined to block the deployment immediately.
“Chicago Mayor should be in jail for failing to protect Ice Officers! Governor Pritzker also!” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Wednesday.
PRITZKER DARES TRUMP TO ARREST HIM@JesseBWatters “What’s he going to do? He is talking all this trash- they are going to send in the guard!” pic.twitter.com/xKR0NBP7TN
— The Five (@TheFive) October 8, 2025
The administration has already deployed forces to Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., earlier this year and is confronting legal challenges over a separate National Guard deployment to Portland.
Oregon and Portland city officials have disputed the White House’s characterization of conditions in Portland.
Trump said Wednesday, “I don’t know what could be worse than Portland,” and added, “You don’t even have stores anymore. They don’t even put glass up. They put plywood on their windows.”
Pressed on whether the administration would follow court orders that limit deployments, Trump answered, “We’ll take a look.”
He defended the potential use of the Insurrection Act as an available legal tool, noting the statute has been invoked previously.
“If you look at Chicago — Chicago is a great city where there’s a lot of crime and if the governor can’t do the job, we’ll do that job. It’s all very simple,” he told reporters.
President @realDonaldTrump on making Chicago SAFE again:
“Chicago is a great city where there is a lot of crime and if the governor can’t do the job, we will do the job.” pic.twitter.com/QodXMLImiX
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) October 7, 2025
Justice Department officials were directed under the presidential memorandum to broaden prosecution priorities for politically motivated violence, while Treasury and tax authorities were tasked with identifying and disrupting financial channels that the administration says support such activity.
The White House emphasized that its approach will include investigation of “organized structures, networks, entities, organizations, funding sources, and predicate actions” linked to domestic political violence.
Legal challenges to federal deployments and to the scope of enforcement measures are expected to continue as state and local officials push back in courts and in public statements.
Americans cannot have their cities and police go after journalists and allow criminal gangs to run free. @AGPamBondi and I are committed to stepping in to protect the people of Portland from this injustice. pic.twitter.com/cnzrF4uDB0
— AAGHarmeetDhillon (@AAGDhillon) October 8, 2025
