Show-Me State Times

U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO) has formally requested that the U.S. State Department designate Antifa as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). In a letter addressed to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Schmitt cited concerns about Antifa’s international presence and activities.

Schmitt referenced recent remarks by President Trump at a roundtable on Antifa, where the president expressed support for dismantling what he described as the group’s international structure. “I write to you today to urge you to designate the foreign networks, organizations and financiers that enable and support Antifa operations as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTO). Yesterday, at a roundtable on Antifa’s terrorist activities, President Trump affirmed his intent to dismantle the far-left group’s international architecture, and expressed his desire to see the network designated as an FTO, saying: ‘Let’s get it done.’ As the President’s special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, noted at the event, Antifa possesses ‘extensive foreign ties,’ and an FTO designation ‘would be a very good step to take.’ I enthusiastically support the administration’s assessment.”

Schmitt also referred to President Trump’s executive order from September 22 designating Antifa as a Domestic Terrorist Organization. He argued that such action does not fully address what he describes as Antifa's global operations. “On September 22, President Trump signed an Executive Order: ‘Designating Antifa as a Domestic Terrorist Organization.’ This E.O. rightly highlighted the fact that Antifa’s ‘organized effort designed to achieve policy objectives by coercion and intimidation is … terrorism.’ However, the Antifa network is fundamentally international in nature, Antifa militants are not independent domestic actors. They are one node of a global system, which enables, funds, and provides critical operational support to Antifa activities across the West. The political violence that Antifa-linked terrorists perpetrate on American streets is inextricably tied to this broader international system. Thus, the Antifa network is better designated as an FTO than a domestic terror organization.”

He continued by outlining what he called evidence of coordinated activity among cells operating in several Western countries. “As noted above, Antifa is a fundamentally international network, active in nations across the West. Its transnational ‘black bloc’ structure includes organized cells in the United States, Canada, the U.K., and across continental Europe. While seemingly decentralized, these cells often work in direct coordination with one another, sharing tactics and strategies, planning militant activism, utilizing shared funding streams, and even collaborating on in-person ‘direct actions.’ Time and time again, at major Antifa actions across the world—including in the U.S.—this international character surfaces.”

Schmitt pointed out findings from European security agencies regarding left-wing extremism. “Notably, European security services track the same ecosystem. Europol’s 2023 ‘Terrorism Situation and Trend Report’ explicitly treats left-wing and anarchist terrorism as a transnational problem,” Schmitt wrote. “‘Left-wing and anarchist extremists see themselves as part of an international movement and international contacts are a key feature of the scene. They connect through social media as well as physical attendance at various events and demonstrations,’ operating via ‘wider international contacts’ in the U.S. and elsewhere.” He added that according to Europol's report these collaborations include creating spaces used for sheltering extremists from abroad.

Concluding his letter Schmitt stated: “For these reasons among many others I urge you to identify and designate organizational backers of the Antifa network as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and I stand by ready to assist however possible in completing this designation and opposing this dangerous network.”

The full text of Senator Schmitt's letter can be accessed online.