A Democratic candidate for Iowa attorney general shared a post comparing Antifa to the U.S. military that participated in the D-Day invasion, according to a screenshot from his personal account on X.
Nate Willems, a former Iowa congressman and labor attorney, is vying for the position of Iowa attorney general. On his campaign page, he stated his intent to pursue convictions for violent crimes. However, his social media activity has also sparked some debate.
Willems is up against the Republican incumbent, Brenna Byrd, who is seeking a second term. While Byrd is in favor of strict immigration enforcement, Willems has openly criticized the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, saying it operates unchecked in U.S. cities. His campaign page features posts addressing these issues, dating back to January 28th.
Willems asserts that he plans to cooperate with local law enforcement and prosecutors.
Back in May and June of 2020, protests led by Antifa often resulted in confrontations between rioters and law enforcement in Portland. At times, police resorted to using tear gas as protesters approached the federal courthouse.
A repost from Willems’ account shows a dramatic comparison, stating, “A plane full of uniformed Antifa, circa 1944,” seemingly alluding to an image of U.S. Army paratroopers during a D-Day raid.
Willems’ campaign has not provided any comments regarding these posts.
Notably, former President Donald Trump classified Antifa as a domestic terrorist organization in September 2025. His statement followed a significant incident involving the Turning Point USA leader, Charlie Kirk.
Trump described Antifa as “sick” and “dangerous,” indicating that investigations should be directed at those financially supporting the group.
Willems has also shared content from the American Civil Liberties Union, which advocated for mask-wearing in public schools back in 2021. Despite several studies indicating that mandatory masks in schools might lack real-world effectiveness, Willems has expressed support for this stance through his reposts.
A systematic review published in 2024 highlighted that robust evidence does not substantiate the efficacy of mask mandates for children in educational settings. Critics have pointed out that studies backing such policies are often considered unreliable.
