Full Breakdown
Trump Administration’s NSPM-7 Fuels Antifa-Targeted Prosecutions
6/25/2026, 5:00:50 AM
NSPM-7-Driven Antifa Prosecutions
In September 2025 the Trump administration issued National Security Presidential Memorandum 7 (NSPM-7), directing federal agencies to investigate and prosecute anti-fascist groups as domestic terrorists. Within weeks Minnesota federal prosecutors filed a 94-page indictment against 15 activists who blocked roadways to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities during “Operation Metro Surge.” Eleven defendants face a charge of conspiracy to impede or injure a federal officer. The same memorandum underpinned a separate indictment of two Stop Cop City protesters for alleged arson at the Brasfield & Gorrie contractor’s office. A federal grand jury later added two more defendants to that case.
Background & Context
President Donald Trump signed an executive order designating “antifa” as a domestic terrorist organization, despite the absence of a statutory definition for such designations. NSPM-7, released on 25 September 2025, reframed anti-government protests—particularly those opposing law-enforcement and border-control policies—as “anti-police and ‘criminal-justice’ riots” and listed anti-American, anti-capitalist, and anti-Christian motives as hallmarks of violent conduct. The memo superseded earlier FBI and DHS classifications that grouped anarchists with sovereign-citizen and right-wing militia movements.
Key Figures & Groups
- President Donald Trump – author of the antifa designation and NSPM-7.
- Attorney General Pam Bondi – issued memos titled “Ending Political Violence Against ICE” and directed U.S. Attorneys to prioritize “the most serious, readily provable offenses.”
- Minnesota U.S. Attorney’s Office – filed the ICE-protest indictment.
- Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr – announced renewed state-level prosecutions of Stop Cop City activists.
- Activists including Renee Good, Alex Pretti, Katie Kloth, and Hannah Kass – subjects of federal and state charges.
- Defense attorney Xavier T. de Janon – challenged the legal basis of the prosecutions.
Timeline
- 2024 – Trump’s executive order designating antifa as a domestic terrorist group.
- 25 Sep 2025 – NSPM-7 issued.
- Summer 2025 – Operation Metro Surge deploys ~2,700 federal agents to the Twin Cities.
- 4 Jul 2025 – Noise demonstration at Prairieland ICE detention facility; related prosecutions cited under NSPM-7.
- Sep 2025 – Minnesota indictment of 15 activists.
- Sep 2025 – Fulton County judge dismisses the largest Stop Cop City RICO case.
- Apr 2025 – Georgia AG Carr indicts three activists for 2022 arson; federal grand jury later adds two defendants.
- Mid-2025 – Unsealed indictment of Palestine protesters linked to NSPM-7.
Data & Statistics
- 2,700 federal agents deployed in the Twin Cities.
- 15 activists indicted; 11 charged with conspiracy to impede or injure a federal officer.
- Indictment spans 94 pages and includes Signal-chat excerpts.
- Reported sentences: 100 years for shooting a police officer; 30 years for moving antifascist zines.
- Over one-third of protesters arrested during the immigration crackdown have had charges dismissed or not filed, per ProPublica and FRONTLINE.
Official Statements & Responses
The Trump administration maintains that activists such as Good and Pretti constitute domestic terrorists. Pam Bondi’s memo framed ICE-related blockades as “riots,” and instructed prosecutors to pursue “the most serious, readily provable offenses.” Georgia AG Chris Carr publicly affirmed a commitment to “fighting Antifa and keeping people safe.”
Criticism & Opposition
Defense counsel de Janon successfully argued that delayed prosecution violated due-process rights, prompting a judge to label the charges “political.” Legal analysts note that NSPM-7’s reliance on conspiracy statutes lowers the evidentiary burden, allowing prosecution without proof of direct criminal acts. ProPublica and FRONTLINE reporting highlight a pattern of dismissals, suggesting potential overreach.
On-the-Ground Reports
Activist Hannah Kass reported difficulty securing employment while her Stop Cop City case remained pending. Other defendants described prolonged pre-trial detention and the psychological impact of facing multi-decade sentences.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources note that no federal law currently authorizes a domestic-terrorist designation for antifa, creating a legal inconsistency between the executive order and statutory authority. The classification of protest blockades as “terrorism” contrasts with the actual charge of conspiracy, a discrepancy not fully resolved in the indictments.
Verbatim Quotes
- “When it comes to fighting Antifa and keeping people safe, we won’t back down.” — Chris Carr, Georgia Attorney General
- “anti-police and ‘criminal justice’ riots.” — language from NSPM-7 memo
- “portray foundational American principles (e.g., support for law enforcement and border control) as ‘fascist’ … Common threads animating this violent conduct include anti-Americanism, anti-capitalism, and anti-Christianity.” — NSPM-7 memo
- “Ending Political Violence Against ICE.” — title of Pam Bondi memo
- “political.” — judge’s description of the charges
What’s Next
Federal grand juries continue to evaluate evidence from past protests, while state prosecutors in Georgia and other jurisdictions coordinate with federal partners on additional NSPM-7-linked cases. The pending indictment of Palestine protesters and ongoing legal challenges suggest that the scope of antifa-focused prosecutions may expand, pending judicial review and potential policy shifts under a future administration.
