Two former jihadist operatives from the United States, including one who trained with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in Pakistan in 2000 and reportedly participated in attacks in Kashmir, India, have been appointed to the White House Advisory Board on the Religious Freedom Commission in the Trump administration.
One of the appointees, Ismail Royer, is a former jihadist who spent 13 years in prison for terrorism-related offenses. He is now serving on the advisory board of the Religious Freedom Commission. In 2003, Royer was charged with offenses such as conspiring to wage war against the United States and providing support to terrorist groups, including al-Qaeda and LeT. He pleaded guilty in 2004 to aiding in the use of firearms and explosives and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. He served 13 years before his release, as reported by The Washington Post. Royer is also said to have trained in Lashkar-e-Taiba camps in Pakistan in 2000.
Hamza Yusuf, co-founder of Zaytuna College, is another name included on the advisory board. Political activist Laura Loomer, a vocal supporter of Donald Trump, accused Yusuf of having connections with Islamic jihadists and proscribed terrorist organizations. Loomer, who was also involved in the removal of Trump’s National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, strongly criticized Royer’s appointment, calling it “insane.”
Despite the backlash, the White House defended Royer’s inclusion, stating that he currently serves as the director of the Islam and Religious Freedom Action Team at the Religious Freedom Institute. According to the official statement, since converting to Islam in 1992, Royer has studied religious sciences with traditional Islamic scholars and spent over a decade working with Islamic non-profit organizations. The White House added that he has contributed to interfaith peace initiatives and has written extensively on religious freedom. His writings have appeared in various outlets, and he co-authored a chapter in the book Religious Violence Today: Faith and Conflict in the Modern World.
In a 2023 interview with the Middle East Forum, Royer reflected on his past. He said he was drawn to LeT because he believed they were not extremists and followed a Saudi imam. “I encouraged people from my mosque to join and train with LeT in Kashmir,” he said. “The training felt more like an adventure trip — shooting guns, exploring mountains — and then coming back. It seemed more like a promotional experience than serious military preparation.”
Previously this week, President Trump, during his visit to the Middle East, met ex-al Qaeda member, now Syrian President, al Sharaa and praised him. Trump also promised to lift sanctions from Syria. It looks like a new bromance is emerging between these extremists and the Trump administration.