President Donald Trump could begin introducing actions targeting liberal organizations as soon as this week, people familiar with the discussions said, as he looks to channel conservative anger over Charlie Kirk’s killing to go after his political opponents.
Trump said yesterday he was open to designating certain left-wing groups as terror organizations and said he was discussing bringing racketeering charges against some operations with his attorney general.
Trump has also raised the possibility of revoking tax-exempt status for liberal nonprofits, and his attorney general and senior adviser have raised the prospect of criminal charges against groups or individuals who are allegedly targeting conservatives.
What actions the president ultimately takes remain an open question. But advisers said there was an across-the-administration effort now underway to identify groups that target conservatives or promote violence, with a goal of taking quick action.
As Trump departs today for a state visit in the United Kingdom, team members are expected to continue those efforts back in Washington, DC, while he is on the three-day trip.
Some context: While the suspect in Kirk’s killing held “leftist ideology,” according to Utah’s Gov. Spencer Cox, a motive for the assassination hasn’t been unveiled. The administration has not presented evidence the 22-year-old accused gunman was working with or influenced by the groups Trump has said he is looking to target.
Still, Trump has suggested the killing extended from a wider coordinated effort to sow violence against conservatives.
“We have some pretty radical groups, and they got away with murder,” he said in the Oval Office yesterday.
