President Trump follows lead of Ted Cruz, announces possibility of designating Antifa terrorist org

President Donald Trump announced Saturday that he is considering designating Antifa a "major" terrorist organization.

"Consideration is being given to declaring ANTIFA, the gutless Radical Left Wack Jobs who go around hitting (only non-fighters) people over the heads with baseball bats, a major Organization of Terror (along with MS-13 & others). Would make it easier for police to do their job!" the president tweeted.

Trump's announcement comes just days after Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) called on Attorney General William Barr to launch an investigation into Antifa under the RICO Act, a prosecutorial tool typically reserved for toppling organized crime.

"I write to urge you to open an organized crime investigation into Antifa, a left-wing anarchist terrorist organization that routinely relies on violence to intimidate and punish its political opponents," Cruz wrote to Barr.

"Our Republic depends on free and open participation in the political process. These acts of brazen political violence and intimidation strike at the heart of that process. Given your commitment to the rule of law, I hope you will respond to Antifa's organized criminal activity, and [Portland] Mayor Ted Wheeler's refusal to protect Portland's citizens from that activity, with all speed and vigilance," he said.

Antifa, a far-left organization, has become a household name in recent years due to the group's brazen use of violence against those with whom the group disagrees.

The assault of journalist Andy Ngo brought renewed scrutiny to the group last month after Ngo was brutally injured at a Portland rally, resulting in a brain bleed.

In addition to calling for Antifa to be investigated under the RICO Act, Cruz, along with Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), introduced a non-binding resolution this month that would classify violent Antifa protesters as "domestic terrorist."