Story perspectives

Trump Labels Antifa Terrorist; Bessent Defends, Critics Cite Omissions

7/17/2026

Summary

Story summary

At a State Department ministerial, Bessent defended the Trump administration’s focus on extremist groups and said an activist tried to assassinate him, urging skeptics to attend August sentencing.
In late September, President Donald Trump signed an executive order designating “Antifa” a domestic terrorist group and issued NSPM-7 on domestic terrorism.
The Brennan Institute for Justice said NSPM-7 omitted Jan. 6, the 2022 Buffalo shooting and 2025 two Democratic Minnesota lawmaker killings.

1 of 1

Story summary

At a State Department ministerial, Bessent defended the Trump administration’s focus on extremist groups and said an activist tried to assassinate him, urging skeptics to attend August sentencing.
In late September, President Donald Trump signed an executive order designating “Antifa” a domestic terrorist group and issued NSPM-7 on domestic terrorism.
The Brennan Institute for Justice said NSPM-7 omitted Jan. 6, the 2022 Buffalo shooting and 2025 two Democratic Minnesota lawmaker killings.