Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Walid Phares, a former adviser in the administration of US President Donald Trump, said that previous US administrations underestimated the dangers posed by extremist groups such as the Muslim Brotherhood and ISIS, while the Trump administration has adopted a more confrontational approach toward what he described as terrorist threats to the United States.
Speaking in an interview with the program “Sunday Report” on the American network Newsmax, Phares argued that the administrations of former presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden compromised US national security by engaging in what he characterized as multiple political understandings and arrangements with Islamist movements, including the Muslim Brotherhood. According to Phares, these policies weakened America’s ability to confront extremist ideology and its networks.
He said that the current Trump administration has taken a fundamentally different path, emphasizing that President Trump intends to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization, a move he described as long overdue. Phares claimed that earlier administrations “abandoned the protection of the United States” by tolerating or cooperating with jihadist-linked groups under the guise of political engagement.
Phares also highlighted Trump’s record on combating ISIS and strengthening border security, arguing that these two issues are central to US national safety. He noted that the United States has faced complex and evolving security challenges since the September 11, 2001 attacks carried out by al-Qaeda, and that confronting these threats requires decisive policies both abroad and at home.
According to Phares, President Trump, who declared the defeat of ISIS during his first term, is now being targeted in multiple ways because of his hardline stance on extremist groups. He pointed to a recent attack on US forces in Syria, describing the situation as extremely dangerous and indicative of the ongoing risks faced by American troops operating in unstable regions.
Border security, Phares said, remains a critical pillar in countering terrorism. While acknowledging that millions of migrants have entered the United States, he warned that the greater danger lies in the potential infiltration of extremists. He praised Trump for preventing what he described as a collapse of border controls, arguing that lax enforcement creates opportunities for radical elements to enter the country.
Phares went further, claiming that hundreds, and possibly thousands, of jihadists have entered the United States by exploiting porous borders. He linked this alleged infiltration to what he described as repeated security incidents across the country, attributing them to the spread of extremist ideologies within institutions and local communities.
Commenting on the recent deadly attack in Syria that killed two American soldiers and a translator, Phares suggested that the incident may have involved an insider with ties to local security forces. He said this possibility underscores the severe risks facing US personnel deployed in volatile environments, where alliances are fragile and infiltration by hostile actors remains a constant threat.
Phares’ remarks reflect a broader debate within US political and security circles over how best to confront Islamist movements, balance counterterrorism with diplomacy, and secure US borders amid shifting global and regional threats.
