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At a White House policy meeting, Kristi Noem on Wednesday likened the loose network of antifascist activists to the notorious gang, Hamas, the Iran-backed group and ISIS, describing the loosely affiliated protesters “just as dangerous” as officially recognized terror groups.

“They operate with the same complexity as Mara Salvatrucha, as the Tren de Aragua, as the Islamic State, as the Lebanese militia, as Hamas, as all of them, they are just as dangerous,” the secretary stated. “Their goal is to dismantle our society, just like the other terrorists we’ve dealt with for decades.”

The discussion featured rightwing social media journalists including several prominent commentators among others who cover antifa protests.

Some of the groups mentioned by the secretary – the Palestinian, Lebanese, and jihadist factions – are officially classified as terror groups that hold land, run armed branches, maintain command structures and have executed large-scale assaults including bombings, kidnappings and assassinations.

Specialists in radical movements have frequently characterized the anti-fascist movement, in comparison, as having no centralized leadership, official membership or structured hierarchy, and it has generally been described by federal law enforcement as a loose network of campaigners who participate in demonstrations, some of which has included damage to belongings and street violence.

This meeting follows a presidential directive issued last month classifying anti-fascist activists as a “homegrown terror group”.

Shortly prior to the declaration, Joe Biggs previously convicted and later pardoned for his actions during the Capitol events wrote on social media: “Who is prepared to pursue anti-fascist activists? Because I know a few guys.”