By Mandy Taheri

Copyright newsweek

Steve Bannon, former White House chief strategist during President Donald Trump’s first term and architect of the “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) movement, told Politico that the right should “go to war” following Charlie Kirk’s assassination.Newsweek has reached out to Bannon via text message for comment on Thursday.Why It Matters Kirk, 31, was the co-founder and executive director of Turning Point USA, a prominent conservative campus organization, and the event was part of his “The American Comeback Tour,” where attendees were invited to debate him in a public setting.News and videos of Kirk’s assassination swept quickly through the country, with people immediately mourning his death and leaders and prominent figures across the political spectrum condemning the violence. President Donald Trump blamed the “radical left” for the assassination immediately following Kirk’s death, and several allies have suggested cracking down on “hate speech” and various left organizations.The shooting comes amid a broader climate of political violence across the United States. In June, Minnesota Democratic state Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband were shot and killed in their home in a targeted political act.What To Know Bannon told Politico earlier this week that the administration is considering several actions following Kirk’s assassination, such as potentially designating “antifa,” an umbrella term for multiple “anti-fascist” groups in the United States, as a formal organization, but rather a group of loosely affiliated people with no central leadership who say they are resisting those they deem fascist or white supremacist.On Thursday, Trump announced on Truth Social that he is in the process of doing so, writing, “I am pleased to inform our many U.S.A. Patriots that I am designating ANTIFA, A SICK, DANGEROUS, RADICAL LEFT DISASTER, AS A MAJOR TERRORIST ORGANIZATION. I will also be strongly recommending that those funding ANTIFA be thoroughly investigated in accordance with the highest legal standards and practices.”Bannon also noted that the administration is looking to expand the scope of the murder investigation, saying, “The biggest thing is to broaden the assassination investigation from a single murder to the broader conspiracy. If we are going to go to war, let’s go to war.”The War Room podcast host reshared the quote on his Gettr account Thursday.22-year-old Tyler Robinson has been held in custody and charged with the murder of Kirk.What People Are Saying Trump told reporters on September 14: “If you look at the problem, the problem is on the left. It’s not on the right … and when you look at the agitators, you look at the scum that speaks so badly of our country, the American flag burnings all over the place, that’s the left, that’s not the right.”Terrorism scholar Bruce R. Hoffman told Newsweek for another article: “Antifa, in any event, is not an organization, has no identifiable leadership or command and control structure or finances—in other words, the terrorist organizational attributes that designation is designed to undermine and dismantle. In sum, there is no legal way, at least for now, that antifa can actually be designated a terrorist organization, except rhetorically.”Maryland Representative Andy Harris wrote on X: “President Trump is right. ANTIFA is a dangerous, radical group that thrives on chaos and violence. Rightfully declaring them a terrorist organization will help protect our communities. It’s time to investigate those who fund them and stop the lawlessness once and for all.”What Happens Next Kirk’s widow, Erika, has been unanimously elected as the new CEO and Chair of the Turning Point Board. Many members of the Trump administration will be attending Kirk’s memorial service on Sunday.