Trump’s War on America Is Expanding

Trump’s decision to label “antifa” a domestic terrorist organization after Charlie Kirk’s assassination—even though his assassin had no connection to far-left anti-fascist organizations—was largely symbolic. There is no “antifa” command structure because it is not an organized group; labeling it a terrorist organization was applauded on the right, where it has become an almost mythic bugbear, but meant little in practice. Still, it was a fearful sign that the president will eagerly label critics and opponents terrorists and attempt to direct federal law enforcement agencies against them.

It would be a mistake to describe this as a crisis that has yet to arrive. Immigrant communities, foreign students, and pro-Palestinian activists have been victims of state violence practically from the moment Trump reentered the White House. This administration has already deployed the military to Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., and plans to do so in Portland, Oregon, and Chicago. It has already sicced its lawyers on the president’s “enemies,” notably former FBI Director James Comey, who last month was slapped with ridiculous charges of lying to Congress. And yet, we have all seen enough these past eight months to know how much worse it can, and almost certainly will, get.

Speaking to hundreds of military commanders on Tuesday, Trump hinted that he plans on expanding his crackdown to target administration critics, activists, and pretty much anyone else who dares speak out against a corrupt and increasingly murderous president. “This is going to be a big thing for the people in this room because it’s the enemy from within, and we have to handle it before it gets out of control,” Trump said. “It won’t get out of control once you’re involved at all.” It’s easy to see that becoming a legal justification for just about anything—just as ICE claims critics endanger its agents, or the administration claims it can kill anyone it says is trafficking drugs or arrest anyone who belongs to “antifa.”