Trump's ‘Jihadist' picks? Who are Ismail Royer and Hamza Yusuf, his controversial appointees

Time of India

18-05-2025

President Trump appointed Ismail Royer and Shaykh Hamza Yusuf to the White House Religious Liberty Commission's advisory board. Royer, formerly convicted on terrorism-related charges, now advocates for religious freedom. Yusuf, a leading Islamic scholar, faces criticism over past associations and statements perceived as sympathetic to extremist views, sparking controversy.
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Who is Ismail Royer?
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Who is Shaykh Hamza Yusuf?
U.S. President Donald Trump has appointed Ismail Royer and Shaykh Hamza Yusuf to the newly established Advisory Board of Lay Leaders under the White House Religious Liberty Commission.According to the White House, Ismail Royer currently serves as the Director of the Islam and Religious Freedom Action Team at the Religious Freedom Institute. The administration emphasizes his commitment to religious advocacy and interfaith cooperation.Shaykh Hamza Yusuf is presented as a leading Islamic scholar and the founder of Zaytuna College , the first accredited Muslim liberal arts institution in the U.S. He is also noted for his academic contributions, including his advisory role at the Center for Islamic Studies at UC Berkeley.However, their appointment has stirred a controversy with commentator Lara Loomer alleging that both individuals have past links to extremist ideologies and jihadist sympathies.Formerly known as Randall Todd Royer, he converted to Islam in 1992 and pursued studies under traditional Islamic scholars. He later worked with multiple Muslim advocacy organizations.In 2004, Royer pleaded guilty to terrorism-related charges as part of the "Virginia Jihad Network" case. U.S. authorities stated that he helped others travel to Pakistan to train with Lashkar-e-Taiba and assisted one individual in learning grenade warfare for potential conflict with Indian forces in Kashmir. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison and released in 2017 after serving 13 years. Since then, Royer has publicly renounced extremism and now advocates for religious liberty and interfaith dialogue.A prominent figure in Western Islamic scholarship, Yusuf is widely regarded as a voice for moderate Islam and interfaith engagement. After converting to Islam, he co-founded Zaytuna College and has served in various academic and advisory roles, including on the Trump administration's Commission on Unalienable Rights.However, critics—led by Loomer—have accused him of downplaying jihadist ideology and of associating with groups allegedly linked to the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas. These claims have not been directly addressed by Yusuf.Loomer has also pointed to controversial past statements and associations. She cites Yusuf's participation in a fundraiser for Jamil al-Amin (formerly H. Rap Brown) just two days before the 9/11 attacks, where Yusuf allegedly criticized the U.S. and questioned al-Amin's guilt. Additionally, Yusuf once defended Sheikh Omar Abdel-Rahman, later convicted of plotting terrorist attacks, and made remarks at a 1996 ICNA event that were critical of American policies. The FBI questioned Yusuf after 9/11 over statements perceived as sympathetic to jihadist views.