Donald Trump goes ahead with advisory panel of 2 jihadists, one linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba

US President Donald Trump has drawn sharp criticism for appointing two individuals with ties to terrorist groups to the White House Advisory Board of Lay Leaders.

Ismail Royer, a convicted jihadist linked to Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and Shaykh Hamza Yusuf were named to the panel despite their controversial histories, raising concerns about vetting processes and security implications.

Ismail Royer: From LeT Training to White House Role

Ismail Royer, formerly known as Rendell Royer, converted to Islam in the early 1990s and later trained at a LeT camp in Pakistan in 2000.

US court documents reveal he aided co-conspirators in joining LeT, a group designated as a terrorist organisation by both the United States and India.

He was also convicted in 2004 for his role in the ‘Virginia Jihadi Network,’ which plotted attacks against American interests and provided material support to al-Qaeda and LeT, handing a 20-year prison sentence, of which he served only 13 years.

During his trial, Royer admitted to facilitating entry for operatives into LeT camps, where they trained with firearms, explosives, and rocket-propelled grenades intended for use against Indian forces in Kashmir.

Despite this, the White House defended his appointment, citing his current role as director of the Islam and Religious Freedom Action Team at the Religious Freedom Institute, where he promotes interfaith dialogue.

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Hamza Yusuf: Alleged Links to Extremist Ideologies

Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, co-founder of California’s Zaytuna College, the first accredited Muslim liberal arts college in the US, faces accusations of downplaying jihad and having ties to the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas.

Trump ally Lara Loomer alleged Yusuf misrepresented Islamic teachings to obscure extremist agendas. Critics also claim Zaytuna’s curriculum includes Sharia law, though the college positions itself as a centre for moderate Islamic scholarship.

Security Concerns and Backlash

LeT, responsible for numerous attacks in India, including the 2008 Mumbai siege, remains a global security threat.

Royer’s involvement with the group and his role in facilitating militant training have intensified scrutiny. Lara Loomer, who previously influenced the removal of Trump’s National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, labelled Royer’s appointment “insane,” questioning the administration’s judgment.

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White House Defends Selections

The Trump administration emphasised Royer’s post-prison advocacy for religious tolerance and his writings on interfaith peace.

A White House statement highlighted his collaboration with nonprofits to bridge religious divides. However, critics argue that appointing individuals with histories of extremism undermines counterterrorism efforts and sends conflicting messages about US policy.