An Iowa Democratic candidate for attorney general is drawing criticism after resurfaced social media posts showed him sharing content that compared antifa activists to American troops who fought during World War II’s D-Day invasion.
Nate Willems, a former Iowa state representative and labor attorney who is challenging Republican Attorney General Brenna Bird, is facing scrutiny over reposts from his personal X account that appeared to praise or defend antifa. The controversy comes as Willems campaigns on promises to work closely with prosecutors and law enforcement while presenting himself as a candidate focused on public safety and criminal justice.
One of the reposts highlighted by critics featured a photograph of U.S. Army paratroopers preparing for combat during World War II with the caption: “A plane full of uniformed antifa, circa 1944.” The post drew a direct comparison between antifa activists and the American servicemen who participated in the Allied invasion of Nazi-occupied Europe.
Additional reposts reportedly made similar comparisons between antifa and the American troops who stormed the beaches of Normandy on June 6, 1944. The comparisons have proven controversial because antifa has been associated with numerous violent confrontations and riots in recent years, particularly during unrest in cities such as Portland, Oregon, and Berkeley, California.
Willems’ campaign did not respond to requests for comment regarding the posts.
The issue is particularly notable given the office Willems is seeking. As attorney general, he would oversee major law enforcement initiatives and criminal prosecutions throughout the state. On his campaign website, Willems states that he intends to work closely with prosecutors and local law enforcement agencies while pursuing convictions for violent crimes.
At the same time, he has also criticized federal immigration enforcement efforts, including actions by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, creating another point of contrast with incumbent Attorney General Brenna Bird, who has generally supported stricter immigration enforcement policies.
The antifa controversy has gained additional attention because President Donald Trump formally designated antifa as a domestic terrorist organization through an executive order in September 2025. Trump announced the designation following the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk and later condemned political violence associated with extremist movements.
Beyond the antifa-related posts, Willems has also faced criticism for sharing content from the American Civil Liberties Union supporting mask requirements in schools during the COVID-19 pandemic. Critics point to more recent studies that have questioned the effectiveness of school mask mandates, arguing that the scientific evidence supporting those policies was often limited or inconclusive.
