On November 12, 2025, the Trump administration officially designated four left-wing European groups as terrorist organizations. This designation follows the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, with the administration asserting its commitment to combat leftist extremism. The groups targeted include an Italian anarchist organization linked to explosive packages sent to the then-president of the European Commission in 2003, two Greek networks associated with bombings in Athens, and an anti-fascist group involved in confrontations with neo-Nazis in Germany.

Historically, Europe has faced significant left-wing political violence, while recent studies indicate that political violence in the United States has predominantly originated from the right. However, there has been a noted increase in politically motivated attacks across various ideologies in the U.S. in recent years. The Trump administration's announcement claims that anarchist militants have engaged in terror campaigns aimed at undermining Western civilization.

This designation enables the U.S. government to target any financial support these networks may receive within the United States. It is noteworthy that many anarchist and anti-fascist groups operate as loose affiliations rather than formal organizations, often engaging in actions that may involve property damage rather than direct harm to individuals. For example, one of the Greek networks reportedly ensured evacuations before detonating a bomb, resulting in no injuries.

The State Department's announcement coincided with a lack of immediate responses from European governments affected by these groups. The classification of such organizations is not unprecedented; Greece has a long history of left-wing and anarchist violence, with some groups previously labeled as terrorist organizations by the U.S. since the 1970s. This is not the first instance of the Trump administration targeting anti-fascist groups, as an executive order was signed shortly after Kirk's assassination to classify antifa as a domestic terror organization.

The four groups identified include the International Revolutionary Front, known for its violent tactics, Armed Proletarian Justice, which has claimed responsibility for bombings in Greece, and Antifa Ost, involved in violent confrontations against neo-Nazis in Germany. Additionally, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has designated Antifa Ost as a terrorist organization, aligning with the Trump administration's stance on left-wing extremism.