Trump hosts roundtable on Antifa violence with journalists
President Donald Trump held a White House roundtable on October 9, 2025, to discuss Antifa's violence with independent journalists who have faced attacks from the group. The event included cabinet members and followed Trump's September designation of Antifa as a domestic terrorist organization. It comes amid efforts to deploy National Guard troops to Portland, Oregon, currently blocked by a federal judge.
The roundtable took place in the White House on Wednesday afternoon, focusing on Antifa, a far-left militant movement accused of instigating violence during protests, including 2020 riots after George Floyd's death and recent attacks on federal immigration facilities. Trump, who designated Antifa a domestic terrorist organization via executive order in September 2025, opened with remarks on the "epidemic of left-wing violence and Antifa-inspired terror" that has escalated for nearly a decade. He described members as "agitators, anarchists, and they’re paid."
Cabinet members joined Trump, including Attorney General Pam Bondi, who criticized the previous administration for allowing Antifa crimes with "total impunity" and vowed to "destroy the entire organization from top to bottom," comparing it to efforts against drug cartels. FBI Director Kash Patel stated that Antifa is "harming everyday citizens in every single one of our communities" and pledged, "We will arrest every single one of them," emphasizing that "the American people deserve law and order."
Independent journalists shared experiences, such as Andy Ngo, who detailed multiple attacks, including being severely choked, and noted Antifa's "decentralized, autonomous" nature that "operates on deception." He suggested the Department of Justice consider "federal conspiracy charges." Katie Daviscourt, who recently suffered a black eye from an assault while covering Antifa, called the designation "a long time coming," adding that the group "believes that violence is justified by any means necessary."
Brandi Kruse highlighted Trump's acknowledgment that "Antifa is a real thing," saying, "Once you take the mask off, they’re nothing," and urged a "full court press to dismantle Antifa once and for all," including investigations into movements between Portland and Seattle. Julio Rosas stressed that "the American people deserve to know what’s happening in these situations."
The event follows Trump's order to send National Guard troops to Portland for anti-ICE protests, temporarily blocked by U.S. District Judge Karin J. Immergut. Critics, including Democrats, argue the administration conflates terrorism with protests, claiming cities like Portland remain safe. The executive order accused Antifa of recruiting and radicalizing individuals to advance political violence while shielding identities and funding.