Podcast Summary: Bannon's War Room – Episode 4780

"Designate Antifa A Terrorist Organization"

Date: September 15, 2025
Host: Stephen K. Bannon
Notable Guests & Speakers: Donald Trump, Stephen Miller, Phil Lyman, various reporters

Episode Overview

This episode centers on President Trump's newly announced federal surge targeting crime in American cities—specifically the reported success in Washington, D.C., and the extension to Memphis and potentially other cities such as Chicago and St. Louis. A major focus is the call to designate Antifa as a domestic terrorist organization, especially in light of the recent assassination of conservative figure Charlie Kirk. The episode features a roundtable with political allies, legal strategists, law enforcement leaders, and reflections on the federal crime-fighting strategy, the role of radical left groups, and government response to violence.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Federal Crime Surge: D.C. Successes & Memphis Initiatives

Timestamps: 00:46–08:41

• President Trump's Crime Response: Trump, joined by senior advisors, details a federal law enforcement push in Washington, D.C., touting "the largest ever violent crime reduction in any city in American history" (08:55, Stephen K. Bannon).
• The approach in Memphis builds on D.C. results and involves interagency coordination, National Guard deployment, and extensive federal prosecutions (02:54, Stephen Miller).
• Trump asserts, “We’re doing it in a big way…somebody had to do this. A president should have stepped up long ago and saved these cities.” (03:38, Trump)
• The Memphis effort is portrayed as a "long-term" mission in contrast to perceived inaction and failures under previous administrations (05:48, Stephen Miller; 04:50, Memphis reporters).
• Reports from local leaders and citizens describe Memphis as “so dangerous that you can’t get out of your car…you get robbed, you get mugged, you get hit” (01:29, quoting a community member).

2. Expanding to Other Cities

Timestamps: 04:29–07:04, 18:03–19:43

• Trump and team indicate plans to replicate these interventions in other cities suffering from violent crime, with Baltimore, Chicago, and St. Louis named as likely next targets.
  • “We have plenty of places... That’s great. Thank you, Jerry. Thank you, Ken.” (07:04, Trump)
  • "We've got to save St. Louis. We've got to save these cities." (18:16, Trump)
• Claims that past administration policies toward law enforcement fostered a "culture" of inaction and emboldened violent actors (15:51, Trump).

3. Designating Antifa as a Terrorist Organization

Timestamps: 15:16–18:03, 37:39–44:03

• The panel repeatedly ties violent protests, attacks on law enforcement, and the recent assassination of Charlie Kirk to Antifa and related radical left-wing groups.
• Trump expresses clear willingness:
  • “It’s something I would do, yeah, if I have support from the people back here... I would do that 100%...” (15:35, Trump)
  • “Antifa is terrible.” (15:51, Trump)
• Discussion of using RICO statutes against funders and organizers of violent agitation, with a focus on bringing criminal charges, freezing bank accounts, and investigating financing—extending potentially to NGOs and foreign actors (34:53, Bannon).
• Bannon frames this as a fulfillment of the War Room’s long-standing call:
  • "President Trump said right there... designate Antifa a domestic terrorist organization... Then you get into the international part of it..." (37:39, Bannon)
• Stephen Miller outlines a “three-level” hierarchy of radical organizations and explains why designation enables expansive investigations, wiretaps, and financial tracking (43:57, Miller).

4. The Charlie Kirk Assassination & Cultural Conflict

Timestamps: 19:29–29:36, 51:03–56:49

• Trump and his advisors repeatedly link the assassination of Charlie Kirk to left-wing radicalization online, parental oversight, and social media platforms.
• Phil Lyman, present at the event, describes the crowd’s mood and reactions, observing that “there were some people... who were not hiding. And it was kind of the LGBTQ. I walked right over and ... they weren’t afraid. They knew something the rest of the people in that crowd didn't know. They were not afraid.” (53:48, Lyman)
• Trump blames "radical left" internet influence and defends plans for attending Kirk’s memorial, reflecting on Kirk's influence:
  • “He was all about young people getting them started, right? ... Turning Point ... could be maybe bigger than it could have ever been had he been there...” (27:16, Trump)
• Ongoing implication that violence is largely a left-wing phenomenon; Trump:
  • “The radical left causes tremendous violence, and they seem to do it in a bigger way. But the radical left really has caused a lot of problems for this country. I really think they hate our country.” (34:20, Trump)

5. Policies on Free Speech, Flags, and Law Enforcement

Timestamps: 30:11–32:12

• Discussion moves to controversial symbols and First Amendment issues, particularly around the trans pride flag in D.C.; Trump argues flag burning “incites violence” and floats jail time for those who burn the American flag (30:17, Trump).
• Miller and Bannon discuss groups like “transtifa” and suggest their inclusion in future terror group designations (31:53, Miller; 32:04, Trump).

6. Plans to Target NGOs and Funding Networks

Timestamps: 34:36–35:56

• Bannon and Trump discuss alleged nonprofit and NGO involvement in organizing, funding, and supplying violent protest activities, especially against ICE and Border Patrol. Bannon:
  • “There’s this whole network of organizations ... under the President’s direction, the attorney general is going to find out who is paying for it, and they will now be criminally liable for paying for violence.” (34:56, Bannon)
• Trump adds anecdotes about protest tactic evolution and vows sweeping law enforcement, stating the country will be made “really safe.” (35:40, Trump)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Stephen K. Bannon (08:55): “In 30 days, President Trump put together a team that saw the largest ever violent crime reduction in any city in American history. … The power of law enforcement under President Trump is going to be used to get all the criminals ... all the domestic terrorists off our streets.”
• Donald Trump (15:35): “It’s something I would do, yeah, if I have support from the people back here ... I would do that 100% ... Antifa is terrible.”
• Phil Lyman (53:48): “...there were some people ... who were not hiding. And it was kind of the lgbtq. I walked right over and ... they weren’t afraid. They knew something that the rest of the people in that crowd didn't know. They were not afraid.”
• Stephen Miller (43:57): “Three levels of these radical organizations ... They radicalize these kids ... then you have a whole other group of very serious... Special Forces... the third layer, and that’s the politicians, the media, the operational aspect and the financing."
• Donald Trump (34:20): “The radical left causes tremendous violence, and they seem to do it in a bigger way. But the radical left really has caused a lot of problems for this country.”
• Stephen K. Bannon (37:39): "President Trump said right there... designate Antifa a domestic terrorist organization... That’s when you start to have a serious investigation."

Important Segment Timestamps

• 00:46–03:38: Trump & team discuss D.C. crime-fighting success, set up of Operation Summerheat, transition to Memphis.
• 08:41–10:35: Bannon lauds the crime initiative, frames federal approach, signals shift in law enforcement priorities.
• 15:16–19:43: Press Q&A on Antifa designation, RICO investigations, and expansion to other cities.
• 27:14–29:36: Trump reflects on Charlie Kirk, plans for memorial, and Turning Point’s legacy.
• 30:11–32:12: Debate on trans flags in D.C., American flag issues, free speech vs. incitement.
• 34:36–35:56: Bannon details plans to investigate and prosecute NGOs for protest organization.
• 37:39–44:03: Bannon/Miller: rationale and mechanisms for designating Antifa, layers of radical groups, international financing.
• 53:48–56:49: Phil Lyman’s eyewitness account of the Kirk event, observations about protesters’ reactions.
• 51:03–53:48: Stephen Miller & Phil Lyman analyze Utah’s political climate and culture-war issues post-Kirk assassination.

Tone and Language

The episode is marked by combative rhetoric, urgency, and a tone of criminal justice “war footing.” Speakers employ anecdotal evidence, personal testimony, and strong partisan framing. Descriptions are vivid, with language emphasizing threat, action, and the righteousness of the administration’s law-and-order approach.

Conclusion

Episode 4780 delivers a comprehensive defense of the Trump administration’s aggressive new anti-crime initiative, spotlights moves toward classifying Antifa as a terrorist group, and connects city crime problems to broader cultural and political battles. The episode weaves local crime anecdotes, a tragic high-profile assassination, and national strategy into a narrative about reclaiming public safety by targeting not just street crime but also protest movements and their support networks. Trump and top advisors position themselves as uniquely proactive in restoring law and order, broadening criminal investigations, and responding forcefully to left-wing activism and violence.