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At a White House policy meeting, the homeland security secretary this week likened the loose network of antifascist activists to the notorious gang, Hamas, Hezbollah and the Islamic State, describing the loosely affiliated street activists “just as dangerous” as officially recognized terror groups.

“They are just as sophisticated as MS-13, as TDA [Tren de Aragua], as Isis, as the Lebanese militia, as the Palestinian faction, each one of these, they pose the same level of threat,” Noem said. “They have an agenda to destroy us, similar to other extremist groups we have confronted for decades.”

The discussion included rightwing social media journalists such as several prominent commentators among others who report on anti-fascist demonstrations.

Some of the groups mentioned by the secretary – the Palestinian, Lebanese, and jihadist factions – are formally designated terrorist organizations that control territory, run armed branches, maintain command structures and have carried out large-scale assaults including bombings, abductions and assassinations.

Extremism experts have long described the anti-fascist movement, in comparison, as lacking a central command, official membership or structured hierarchy, and it has generally been described by federal law enforcement as a loose network of activists who participate in demonstrations, some of which has included property destruction and public clashes.

The roundtable follows an executive order issued last month classifying anti-fascist activists as a “homegrown terror group”.

Shortly prior to the declaration, Joe Biggs who was convicted and then pardoned for his actions during the Capitol events posted on X: “Who is prepared to pursue anti-fascist activists? Because I know a few guys.”