May 22, 2025
The Trump administration is facing mounting criticism over a series of appointments and high-level engagements involving individuals with documented ties to radical Islamic movements and extremist-linked organizations. Chief among these concerns are the appointments of Ismail Royer and Hamza Yusuf to the Religious Liberty Commission. Royer’s past association with the terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba, responsible for the 2008 Mumbai massacre, and his criminal record raise serious national security concerns. Similarly, Hamza Yusuf, while widely respected in some academic circles, has publicly defended individuals convicted of terrorism, including the “Blind Sheikh,” and has a history of minimizing jihadist threats. These selections reflect a disturbing lapse in vetting procedures and have sparked outcry from national security experts and watchdog organizations alike.
However, perhaps the most alarming case is that of Rabiul Chowdhury—a political operative whose ascent within Trump’s inner circle has gone largely unnoticed. Chowdhury has been photographed at numerous high-level events, including the White House Iftar, Trump’s inaugural ball, and private meetings with top political figures like Greg Abbott and Tulsi Gabbard. His background, however, reveals long-standing involvement with radical organizations such as the Muslim Student Association, Emgage, and CAIR—all of which have been linked to the Muslim Brotherhood or other Islamist networks. Despite this, Chowdhury has gained access to the highest levels of Republican politics, symbolizing a deeper problem: ideological appeasement cloaked as outreach. His trajectory suggests a strategic effort to normalize dangerous affiliations under the guise of political engagement, raising urgent questions about influence, access, and national security within the political establishment.
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SOURCE: RAIR Foundation