Fact Check: "The Trump administration is the first to designate a white supremacist group, the Russian Imperial Movement, as a terrorist organization."
What We Know
On April 7, 2020, the U.S. State Department officially designated the Russian Imperial Movement (RIM) as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) organization. This designation marked the first time in history that the U.S. government classified a white supremacist group as a terrorist organization. The announcement was made by Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo, who emphasized the importance of condemning racism and white supremacy (source-1).
The RIM is known for providing paramilitary training to white supremacists and neo-Nazis across Europe and has been linked to various terrorist activities, including attacks in Sweden. The group operates training facilities in St. Petersburg, Russia, where it instructs individuals in combat techniques (source-2).
Analysis
The designation of RIM as a terrorist organization is significant, as it reflects a shift in U.S. counterterrorism policy to include racially or ethnically motivated violent extremism, particularly white supremacist terrorism, which has seen a rise in incidents globally (source-3). Ambassador Nathan Sales, the Coordinator for Counterterrorism, noted that this action was unprecedented and illustrated the administration's commitment to addressing the threat posed by white supremacist groups (source-2).
Multiple reputable news outlets confirmed this designation, highlighting its historical significance. For instance, the Associated Press and BBC reported that this was the first time a white supremacist group had been labeled as a terrorist organization by the U.S. government (source-4, source-5). The New York Times also noted the implications of this designation within the broader context of U.S. counterterrorism efforts (source-6).
The reliability of the sources is high, as they include official government statements and coverage from established news organizations. The State Department's press release provides a direct account of the designation, while the news articles offer context and analysis of the implications of this action.
Conclusion
The claim that "The Trump administration is the first to designate a white supremacist group, the Russian Imperial Movement, as a terrorist organization" is True. The designation of RIM as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist group is indeed a historic first for the U.S. government regarding white supremacist organizations, reflecting a significant policy shift in addressing domestic and international terrorism.
Sources
- United States Designates Russian Imperial Movement and Leaders as Global Terrorists. State Department
- Briefing With Coordinator for Counterterrorism Amb. Sales on the U.S. Designation of the Russian Imperial Movement. U.S. Embassy Tbilisi
- Designation of the Russian Imperial Movement. State Department
- In a first, US slaps sanctions on Russian white supremacists. Associated Press
- Russian white supremacists are terrorists says Trump. BBC News
- U.S. Will Give Terrorist Label to White Supremacist Group for First Time. The New York Times
