US plans summit targeting decentralised anti-fascist movement

The Trump administration is preparing an international summit aimed at countering the left-wing movement Antifa and similar groups, according to sources familiar with the plans.

The event, tentatively scheduled for June or July, is expected to bring together officials from multiple countries to discuss strategies and expand intelligence sharing, as per Reuters.

The initiative reflects a broader shift in US counterterrorism priorities over the past year, with President Donald Trump portraying Antifa as a major security threat. A State Department spokesperson described the movement as responsible for “a terror campaign” involving violence across the United States and other Western countries.

Officials involved in organising the summit include Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Thomas DiNanno. While details remain limited, invitations had not been formally sent as of last week, and the exact scope of the conference — whether focused specifically on Antifa or left-wing extremism more broadly — remains unclear. One source said European countries are likely to be among those invited, and the administration is aiming to announce a global coalition to counter Antifa around the time of the event.

The initiative has drawn criticism from some current and former officials, who question the timing amid heightened threats linked to Iran and its allies, including Hezbollah. Former State Department official Michael Jacobson expressed scepticism about allocating counterterrorism resources to Antifa while more immediate threats are emerging.

Experts have long debated the nature of Antifa, describing it as a decentralised movement rather than an organised group, without a clear leadership structure. Nonetheless, individuals identifying with the movement have been linked to acts of violence, including a 2025 attack on a US immigration detention centre that resulted in terrorism-related convictions.

The administration’s focus on Antifa also raises legal and civil liberties concerns. Critics argue that efforts to classify the movement as a terrorist organisation risk targeting political ideology rather than a defined entity.

By Tamilla Hasanova