The Power of Asking the Right Question

On September 15, 2025 D.C. Bureau Chief Sarah Roderick-Fitch directly asked President Trump in the Oval Office if he planned to designate Antifa as a terrorist organization, catalyzing a chain of significant policy developments and international responses.

Asking the question no one else would, The Center Square drove a week of coverage, creating:

• Broad Domestic News Media Coverage: Every major U.S. and international news source picked up on our reporting and on Trump’s response, for three straight days.
• Cable TV and Network Breaking News Coverage: The Center Square’s exclusive question generated breaking news coverage across CNN’s platforms, Fox News, Newsmax, and even MSNBC.
• News Cycle Leadership: Our story led both the top of national and international news coverage throughout the week.

This story wasn’t just a viral moment. Rather, Sarah’s curiosity had immediate policy impact:

• 24-Hour Congressional Response: Less than 24 hours after President Trump’s statement to The Center Square, the U.S. House expedited legislation to designate Antifa as a terrorist organization.
• Rapid Policy Implementation: Less then one week later President Trump officially signed an executive order designating Antifa as a “domestic terrorist organization.”
• RICO Investigation Authorization: Within 48 hours, Trump’s response included authorization for Attorney General Pam Bondi to pursue federal RICO charges against Antifa funders.
• Netherlands Parliamentary Action: The Netherlands parliament voted to designate Antifa as a terrorist organization, explicitly following President Trump’s lead, as established by The Center Square’s reporting.

This impact speaks to how the media holds the power to initiate important conversations across the country – not only in our communities, but on the national and international stage. The story and related content generated significant engagement across multiple social media platforms – including President Trump and members of Congress – generating more than 68 million impressions and a reach of 995 million views in just ten days.

The Center Square provided unique access to ask critical, substantive questions in the Oval Office, made possible because of our readers and supporters. Our reputation for balanced, direct questioning created the opportunity for this high-impact interaction while the quality of the reporting maintained and enhanced The Center Square’s access for future critical stories. With an average daily reach of 141 million American adults through the The Center Square newswire, our team delivers content to all taxpayers – no matter where they source their news.

By asking a direct question to President Trump in that setting, specifically offering him the opportunity to take on the subject of Antifa in isolation, The Center Square delivered a defining example of journalism that generated:

• National news cycle prominence for an entire week
• Immediate policy action within 24 hours
• Official policy implementation within 48 hours
• International legislative influence
• Widespread digital and social media amplification
• Enhanced organizational credibility and access

This sequence demonstrates The Center Square’s unique position in American political journalism and its ability to drive consequential policy discussions through direct, substantive questioning of key political figures. This positioning would not be possible without our loyal readers and generous support.

Thank you for your support and readership.