Antifa is a loose network of militant activists rather than a single, centralized organization. The name comes from “anti-fascist,” but its adherents often appear to define fascism as anything they oppose. Many are anarchists, standing against all forms of government, while also claiming to oppose white supremacy, nationalism, authoritarianism, racism, homophobia, xenophobia, and capitalism.
They frequently use images of World War II U.S. soldiers to suggest they are carrying on that legacy, implying that Americans who don’t support their cause are betraying the memory of American heroes. Yet there is no fascist party in America today. Fascist candidates last appeared on ballots in the 1930s, and there are no major political figures or movements advocating for a totalitarian state or the abolition of democratic institutions. There does not even appear to be evidence of small fringe groups openly calling themselves fascist.
In practice, what Antifa targets are conservatives, Republicans, Christians, and law enforcement, with particular focus on federal immigration enforcement. Documented evidence shows Antifa groups consistently disrupting Republican events, harassing conservative activists, opposing Christian organizations, and attacking police and federal agents—not fascist organizations. When Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene accused AOC of supporting Antifa, she pointed specifically to their opposition to ICE and their disruptive actions at Republican gatherings.
The “anti-fascist” label functions as political branding, giving Antifa the appearance of heroic resistance while masking the fact that their true targets are mainstream American political opponents. This mislabeling makes their actions appear more legitimate than if they were accurately described as opposition to Republicans, Christians, and conservatives.
Antifa generally operates in small, local groups across the U.S. and a handful of other countries, with no central leadership. Some, like Rose City Antifa in Portland, are more visible, while others remain underground. Their activities range from researching and exposing far-right individuals to doxxing and pressuring employers to fire them. Some members justify physical confrontation, including “punching Nazis.” They are also known for wearing all-black clothing and masks during protests, where they intimidate conservatives and Christians, damage property, disrupt traffic, block public access, and confront law enforcement. These clashes have sometimes turned deadly, as in a 2020 Portland case where an Antifa-aligned individual was linked to a fatal shooting.
On December 6, 2021, prosecutors charged seven self-identified anti-fascists in connection with assaults at the January 2021 “Patriot March” in Pacific Beach. According to the complaint, the group organized in San Diego and Los Angeles about a week before the event and allegedly used pepper spray, flagpoles, sticks, and other objects to attack pro-Trump demonstrators.
Such incidents were part of a broader pattern of antifa-aligned violence and disorder between 2016 and 2021. Protests in Portland, Seattle, and Berkeley were marked by assaults on political opponents and law enforcement, the use of weapons such as bike locks, clubs, and projectiles, and repeated cases of unlawful assembly, obstruction of traffic, and refusal to disperse. Property destruction was widespread, targeting storefronts, government buildings, vehicles, monuments, and public spaces.
Several high-profile cases highlighted these trends. In 2017, Eric Clanton was convicted for the Berkeley bike lock assault. Portland saw repeated arrests during protests between 2016 and 2021, while Washington D.C. experienced significant property damage during the 2017 inauguration demonstrations.
On September 22, 2025, President Donald J. Trump issued an executive order designating Antifa as a domestic terrorist organization. The order describes Antifa as “Antifa is a militarist, anarchist enterprise that explicitly calls for the overthrow of the United States Government, law enforcement authorities, and our system of law. It uses illegal means to organize and execute a campaign of violence and terrorism nationwide to accomplish these goals. “
The executive order accuses Antifa of recruiting and radicalizing young Americans, concealing its funding, and coordinating with other groups to promote political violence and suppress lawful speech. The designation directs federal agencies to use all available authority to investigate, disrupt, and dismantle Antifa’s operations, including prosecuting those who support or fund its activities.
The Open Society Foundation has publicly stated, “George Soros does not fund Antifa. But he is opposed to fascism. We do fund groups working for racial justice in the United States.” Despite this claim, reports from the Capital Research Center allege that Soros’s foundation has poured more than $80 million into organizations tied to extremism and “direct actions” the FBI classifies as domestic terrorism.
Several groups and networks provide documented legal and financial support to Antifa-related activities. The International Anti-Fascist Defence Fund, for example, has donated over $250,000 to more than 750 anti-fascists and anti-racists in 26 countries since 2015, with author Mark Bray pledging half the proceeds of Antifa: The Anti-Fascist Handbook to the fund. The National Lawyers Guild (NLG) and its foundation reported combined revenues of over $3 million in 2018, supported in part by grants such as $2.7 million from Greater Horizons, $110,000 from the Warsh Mott Legacy foundation, and matching grants from the CS Fund for the NLG’s Mass Defense Program.
Legal defense and bail networks have also played a key role. The National Bail Fund Network, which coordinates 80 local bail funds across the U.S., is run through the Soros-funded Tides Center’s Community Justice Exchange. The Alliance for Global Justice, which has received hundreds of thousands of dollars from Soros’s nonprofit, financially supports bail funds like the Louisville Community Bail Fund.
Other bail organizations frequently bailing out Antifa activists include the Action Bail Fund NYC, Minnesota Freedom Fund, Chicago Community Bond Fund, Brooklyn Community Bail Fund, Bronx Freedom Fund, Atlanta Solidarity Fund, the NLG, and the Center for Constitutional Rights. Then-Senator Kamala Harris even encouraged donations during the 2020 riots, tweeting: “If you’re able to, chip in now to help post bail for those protesting on the ground in Minnesota.”
Politically, some Democrats have defended or been accused of sympathizing with Antifa-aligned causes. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene accused Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of supporting “terrorists and Antifa” due to her opposition to ICE and Republican events. Other members of “The Squad”, Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, and Ayanna Pressley, have faced similar criticism, with Democratic leadership figures like Rep. Gregory Meeks and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi defending them against Republican attacks.
With the designation of Antifa as a terrorist organization, those funding it, and possibly even politicians providing cover, could find themselves in trouble with the Department of Justice.