Following the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, the Treasury Department has amassed a significant amount of data regarding funding linked to violent leftist groups, according to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
President Donald Trump labeled Antifa as a domestic terrorist organization on September 17. This declaration came just a week after Kirk was killed during the TPUSA “Prove Me Wrong” event at Utah Valley University. In a conversation with co-hosts Blake Neff and Andrew Corbett on “The Charlie Kirk Show,” Bessent was asked about developments after they showcased a video featuring Stephen Miller discussing Kirk’s fears about increasingly violent left-wing movements.
Bessent drew parallels between Kirk’s death and a domestic version of 9/11, highlighting how the Treasury Department has been pivotal in tracking terrorist financing since the tragic attacks in 2001. “This incident made us aware of what Charlie understood: these organizations are operating within our country,” he noted. While he emphasized the importance of free speech and peaceful protest, he stated that violence would not be tolerated. He mentioned a rise in anti-Semitism and bigotry that has developed since Kirk’s death, underscoring that many of these groups rely on funding from nonprofits, which he stated would be addressed. “We’ll follow the money,” he asserted.
Antifa was notably involved in violent riots that erupted after George Floyd’s death in May 2020, as well as in the January 2021 riots in Portland. They have also been associated with incidents such as the assault on journalist Andy Ngo in June 2019.
“We are actively monitoring this situation here at the Treasury Department, aiming to ensure not only Charlie’s legacy but also the security of our nation and the preservation of free speech for all,” Bessent said.
In response to this situation, several media outlets and Democratic commentators have dismissed the existence of Antifa as a formal organization. For example, ABC late-night host Jimmy Kimmel labeled it as a “completely fictional organization,” while Chuck Todd from “Meet the Press” expressed uncertainty about what Antifa even is. CNN analyst Juliet Kayyam stated that it’s not entirely comparable to clear-cut groups like the Proud Boys, while Democratic Congressman Dan Goldman emphasized that Antifa doesn’t actually exist as an organized entity.
