Saturday, March 29, 2025
The Trump administration has appointed two controversial figures to an advisory board at the White House. One of them, Ismail Royer, has direct links to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), a Pakistan-based terrorist group. This move has shocked many in India and raised fears over growing extremist influence in U.S. politics.
Ismail Royer, formerly known as Randall Royer, was once convicted of terrorist activities. In 2004, a U.S. court sentenced him to 20 years in prison for helping people join LeT training camps in Pakistan. He was part of the “Virginia Jihad Network” and reportedly supported violent operations against India, including sending recruits to train in rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) use.
Royer served 13 years of his sentence and now works as the Director of Islam and Religious Freedom Action Team at a U.S. non-profit. In a 2023 interview, Royer admitted he once admired LeT and didn’t view it as extreme. He also admitted helping several men—including Mansoor Khan, Yong Ki Kwon, and Ibrahim al-Hamdi—reach Pakistani terror camps.
The second appointee, Sheikh Hamza Yusuf, is a well-known Muslim scholar and co-founder of Zaytuna College. He has faced past allegations of ties to the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas. Critics say Yusuf has downplayed the true meaning of “jihad” and accuse Zaytuna College of promoting Sharia law.
Conservative activist Lara Loomer called these appointments “madness.” She argued that Royer’s past actions—including his role in militant activities in Kashmir—should have disqualified him. Loomer also criticized the White House for giving a platform to individuals she believes promote radical ideologies.
The White House has not released an official statement on the matter.
These appointments may have wider implications for India–U.S. relations. Lashkar-e-Taiba is a banned organization in both countries and is responsible for deadly attacks in India, including the 2008 Mumbai attacks that killed 166 people. India recently targeted LeT camps in Pakistan and PoK during Operation Sindoor, destroying several key terror hubs, including the Taiba Training Center in Muridke.
Critics warn that giving such individuals influence within U.S. policy circles could send dangerous signals to terror groups and undermine global anti-terror cooperation.
