Story perspectives

Trump memo sparks domestic terrorism label, 15 activists indicted

6/25/2026

Summary

Story summary

U.S. President Donald Trump’s National Security Presidential Memorandum 7 is being applied to label protest tactics as domestic terrorism.
Federal prosecutors in Minnesota indicted fifteen activists for conspiracy to impede federal officers during anti-ICE road blockades.
The indictment cites Signal group-chat messages and links the defendants to the anarchist publication CrimethInc.
Legal analysts say state courts have dismissed many related cases, suggesting the Minnesota charges could be challenged or dropped.

History

Historical Context

After the April 19 1995 Oklahoma City bombing killed 168 people, Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole introduced the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act on April 27 1995; Congress passed it with a 91-8 Senate vote and signed it on April 24 1996, expanding federal terrorism jurisdiction. In 2020 the Trump administration issued National Security Presidential Memorandum 7, further widening domestic-terrorism definitions.

1 of 2

Story summary

U.S. President Donald Trump’s National Security Presidential Memorandum 7 is being applied to label protest tactics as domestic terrorism.
Federal prosecutors in Minnesota indicted fifteen activists for conspiracy to impede federal officers during anti-ICE road blockades.
The indictment cites Signal group-chat messages and links the defendants to the anarchist publication CrimethInc.
Legal analysts say state courts have dismissed many related cases, suggesting the Minnesota charges could be challenged or dropped.

1 / 2