Roundtable at the White House Discusses Antifa Threats
The White House held a discussion on Wednesday with independent journalists who strongly criticized the ongoing attacks by Antifa extremists in cities led by Democrats.
During this meeting, President Trump committed to declaring Antifa a foreign terrorist organization. Several reporters shared their personal experiences of the violent incidents they faced while covering Antifa protests, alleging that local authorities have been lax in their enforcement of laws, effectively allowing the group to operate freely.
One video journalist, Nick Shirley, recounted the serious threats made against him on the job. “Antifa members warned me they would ‘smoke’ me,” he noted. Shortly after, he found himself targeted by a DHS sniper, who had a laser aimed at him.
“These individuals are extremely dangerous,” he emphasized. “In these cities, the laws simply aren’t enforced. Why should people feel secure if the laws aren’t upheld?”
Katie Daviscourt, a reporter who has been covering Antifa activities in Portland for years, shared her own traumatic encounter. “We saw a group of 20 Antifa members aiding an assault suspect, helping him escape to an Antifa safe house just a block from the ICE facility,” she explained.
“This is where they regroup, clean up, and eat. I even monitored this location and noticed how organized they are. They receive funding through mutual aid channels, and there’s no indication they’ll stop,” she added.
Daviscourt accused local law enforcement of surrendering entire blocks to the extremists. “The Portland Police has completely abandoned several areas around the ICE facility, allowing a terrorist group to operate unchecked. I ended up with a black eye and a concussion after being struck in the face with a metal bar while reporting outside that facility,” she said.
Another journalist, Andy Ngo, recounted a particularly harrowing experience during the roundtable, detailing how Antifa extremists nearly killed him in 2019. He described being ambushed; he didn’t fully grasp what was happening until moments later, when he was attacked from all sides. “My head, face, eyes, and ears were all bleeding. To add insult to injury, they dumped a drink in my face before taking me to the hospital,” Ngo recalled.
Afterward, he felt the media had turned against him. “I suffered a brain hemorrhage and came close to death. Following that, the media portrayed me as if I had somehow brought this upon myself, labeling me as far-right, with some even insinuating that my injuries were exaggerated,” he stated.
In response to the ongoing violence, President Trump had previously ordered military protection for ICE facilities in Portland after Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem sought federal support against Antifa. White House officials shared that between June and September, Portland experienced at least six significant violent protests, some linked to Antifa, along with other groups protesting unjustly.
Officials cited various incidents, including arson and assaults on law enforcement outside ICE facilities. In September, Trump labeled Antifa a terrorist organization and instructed federal agencies to investigate those funding their operations. In a post on Truth Social, he described the group as a “sick, dangerous, radical left-wing disaster” and urged authorities to trace its financial backers.
