South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, the homeland security secretary, returned to that theme in a recent White House roundtable—stirring up quite a discussion. She equated Antifa to infamous terrorist groups MS-13, Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Islamic State. That proclamation comes on the heels of an important development. In September, former president Donald Trump signed an executive order that designated Antifa as a “domestic terrorist organization.”
Noem emphasized the perceived danger posed by Antifa, stating, “They are just as sophisticated as MS-13, as TDA [Tren de Aragua], as Isis, as Hezbollah, as Hamas, as all of them, they are just as dangerous.” She further elaborated that Antifa has an agenda to “destroy us, just like the other terrorists we’ve dealt with for many, many years.”
On Wednesday, a prolific panel of right-wing social media journalists took center stage for a roundtable discussion. Katie Daviscourt, Nick Sortor, and Andy Ngo joined, honing in on their deep coverage of left-wing protests. During the discussion, Attorney General Pam Bondi echoed Trump’s earlier condemnations of Antifa, reinforcing the administration’s stance on the group.
Specifically, Trump’s executive order drew attention to attacks that he claims are the work of Antifa—such as a shooting attack on a federal law enforcement agent. He highlighted the recent arrest of an Antifa man for the attempted murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. He called this attack related to “far-left extremism.” Despite the sensitivity and fears from both sides, this incident has only raised Antifa’s profile as a domestic terror group in the current administration’s eyes.
The meeting at the White House comes in the wake of a torrent of incendiary rhetoric from right-wing leaders. Just days before the roundtable, Joe Biggs, a leader of the Proud Boys who was previously convicted for his involvement in the January 6 Capitol riots and later pardoned, posted on X: “Who’s ready to go ANTIFA hunting? Because I know a few guys.”
Antifa is not a coordinated national organization, but rather a decentralized network of local antifascist street activists. They have received a good deal of press for their energetic participation in the protests across the United States. However, law enforcement officials have not established any direct links between individuals accused of violence and organized groups like Antifa.
Noem’s comparison – which has drawn intense backlash – has sparked a national debate on how we label very different protest movements. This conversation is central to reckoning with their effects on public safety. As federal and state officials continue to address these issues, tensions remain high regarding the actions and motivations of groups labeled as extremist or terrorist by different factions within the political landscape.