Rubio’s international ‘antifa summit’ takes place after Trump’s national security policy has already sent left-wing US activists to prison for decades

The Trump administration is expanding enforcement of a controversial national security policy with new international reach. A presidential memorandum issued last year authorizes prosecutors to target left-wing activists based on ideology—flagging views like anti-capitalism as potential terrorism indicators, The Conversation reports. Secretary of State Marco Rubio convened representatives from more than sixty-five countries this week for an international summit to counter what he termed political terrorism, claiming without evidence that Iran and Cuba are funding antifa networks. Enforcement has already produced severe consequences: in Texas, one defendant received one hundred years in prison, and in Minnesota, fifteen people were indicted with investigations citing conduct like wearing an antifa sweatshirt. Critics warn of significant First Amendment implications as this approach represents a major shift in how the U.S. defines and prosecutes terrorism.

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