Trump wants to crack down on “left-wing terrorists”

Donald Trump announced that he would sign an executive order this week to dismantle “domestic terrorist networks” that he believes are funded by left-wing groups and incite violence. He refers to the attack on conservative activist Charlie Kirk, which he describes as part of a coordinated left-wing assault.

The announcement came on the same day as an armed attack on an immigration office in Dallas, in which one person was killed and two others were injured.

At the same time, the president largely downplayed violence by right-wing groups, insisting that politically motivated violence is a problem of the left. However, experts on domestic terrorism emphasize that acts of violence come from both sides and that historically, more attacks have been inspired by right-wing ideology.

On Monday, Trump also signed a separate executive order declaring the left-wing anti-fascist movement Antifa a “domestic terrorist organization” and threatening to investigate and prosecute those who financially support it.

(reuters, max)