Donald Trump issued a national security directive describing people with leftist or liberal values as domestic terrorists, alleging organizations are funding political violence, and directing multiple agencies to take legal action against alleged perpetrators of domestic terror.
National Security Presidential Memorandum 7, or “NSPM-7,” claims that there are organized groups encouraging and planning violence in order to “limit political activity, change or direct policy outcomes, and prevent the functioning of a democratic society.” The order goes as far as accusing colleges and universities of working with these fictional groups.
The memorandum directs the National Joint Terrorism Task Force to investigate and prosecute:
1) anyone who uses intimidation to obstruct law enforcement
2) anyone accused of encouraging others to commit political violence or infringe on any citizen’s rights
3) institutions accused of supporting political violence or limiting anyone’s rights, and
4) organizations and citizens accused of acting as unregistered foreign agents or money laundering to support domestic terrorism.
We highlighted “1)” above because targeting Americans for using intimidation to obstruct law enforcement could be used to accuse protesters of political violence or acts of domestic terror. Additionally, there are new videos every week of Americans attempting to stop ICE from taking their friends, neighbors, or loved ones. The text of NSPM-7 implies that they are now subject to federal investigation and possible prosecution.
Trump also directs the Justice Department (DOJ) to recognize specific actions as “politically motivated terrorist acts.” These actions include: organized doxing campaigns, swatting, rioting, looting, trespass, assault, destruction of property, threats of violence, and civil disorder.
To identify potential “terrorists,” law enforcement is expected to look for examples of “anti-Americanism, anti-capitalism, and anti-Christianity; support for the overthrow of the United States Government; extremism on migration, race, and gender; and hostility towards those who hold traditional American views on family, religion, and morality.”
The DOJ and Dept. of Homeland Security (DHS) are ordered to provide federal grants to state and local law enforcement to help “detect, prevent, and protect against threats” from domestic terrorist groups.
Instructions are provided to the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service on pursuing organizations accused of funding political violence and intimidation.
No U.S. organization has been found to fund protests on the left, but GOP groups (including Charlie Kirk‘s Turning Point USA) and Russia are both known to finance and help plan protests on their side.
NSPM-7 comes in the aftermath of the murder of Charlie Kirk. The White House and the Republican Party have painted Kirk’s shooter as a “radical leftist” and accused Democrat-supporting organizations of helping plan Kirk’s death.
At the time of this post, the latest evidence against Tyler Robinson suggests he is a centrist who had a personal vendetta against Kirk for his hatred towards the LGBTQ+ community. Robinson is bisexual, and his partner is transgender. Aside from their sexual and gender identities, there is nothing to suggest either is a leftist or politically active in general. (See the source “Ken Klippenstein” below for more details on Robinson from his friends and Discord messages.)
