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Trump and jihadist forces: Is the US taking a U-turn on war on terror?

While Trump positioned himself as a fighter against jihadism, he unintentionally played into the hands of the jihadist groups by fuelling global instability and deepening divisions within US read more The post-9/11 response announced by former US President George W Bush later on built an impression that jihadist groups hate American presidents. But with Donald Trump, things are more complicated. Even though he used strong language, made strict immigration rules and ordered attacks on jihadist leaders, many jihadists—especially Salafi-jihadis—seemed to strangely prefer him. This doesn't mean they liked or admired him. Instead, they found his actions useful for their own goals. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Many jihadist groups and thinkers believed that Trump's presidency, without meaning to, helped their cause. His leadership made their messages stronger and made divisions in society worse, which is exactly what these groups want to use to their advantage. Exploiting chaos From the point of view of jihadist groups, President Trump is seen as someone who creates disorder, both inside US and around the world. A BBC Monitoring report says even though jihadists usually ignore Western elections and changes in leadership, they often see Trump as someone who brings chaos that they can use to their advantage. They believe that during Trump presidency, the American society will be even more divided, increase tensions within the country and distract the US government from focussing on fighting terrorism overseas. This kind of chaos fits well with what jihadist groups like the Islamic State (IS) and Al Qaeda. These groups aim to make divisions in Western countries worse so they can spread their ideas and build support for their causes. Trump observers say the latest flip-flop is not a new thing for the Republican leader. A Foreign Affairs article from 2016 say that Trump's unpredictable behaviour, strong anti-Muslim language and tendency to pull US away from international involvement support the jihadist story that the West is weak and falling apart. Aversion to foreign wars Trump has often shown that he doesn't want US to get involved in long and costly wars in other countries. Because of this, some jihadist groups have given him reluctant approval. They understand that when the US pulls its troops out of certain regions, it gives them more space to regroup and grow. During Trump's time in office in the first term, the US started pulling out of Afghanistan. This move was completed under President Biden and led to the quick return of the Taliban to power. Many jihadists now expect that during Trump's second presidency, he will follow a similar path in places like Syria and Iraq. These are areas where American forces are still important in fighting what's left of the IS and keeping Iran-backed militias in check. Jihadist groups are also hopeful that Trump will not focus much on Africa. The US already pulled out troops from Chad and Niger in 2024, which has led to more jihadist activity in those areas. Even though Trump made some strong moves in the past—like ordering the killing of IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi—jihadists think his lack of interest in rebuilding other nations will help them in the long run. They believe that any short-term losses during his time in office are worth it if it means gaining more power and space in the future. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Hostility toward Iran One of the few areas where President Trump and Sunni jihadist groups share similar views is their strong dislike for Iran. Jihadist groups have noticed that Trump pulled US out of the Iran nuclear deal, supported Israeli military actions and backed fights against terrorists that are supported by Iran. They see these moves as helpful in pushing back against what they call Shia aggression. Groups like IS, which follow Salafi-jihadi beliefs, see Iran and Shia groups as serious threats to Sunni Islam. During the ongoing war between Israel and Gaza, IS even said that fighting Iran was more important than fighting Israel. Reports suggest that the IS sees Iran as a bigger danger to Sunni Muslims than Israel. Because President Trump said strong words against Iran, many jihadist groups felt that his actions matched their own goals. They see Shia fighters as a more immediate threat than Zionism, so Trump's anti-Iran stance fits well with their strategy. Anti-Muslim rhetoric One of the strongest reasons why jihadist groups favour Trump is because of the way he speaks about Muslims. His words are often used by these groups to support their claim that the West hates Islam. Trump's comments about bombing jihadists, banning Muslims and bringing back torture have even been used in IS propaganda videos and helped them recruit new members. During Trump's first term, he put in place the 2017 travel ban that affected several Muslim-majority countries and also moved US embassy to Jerusalem. Jihadist media groups like those linked to Al Qaeda pointed to these actions as proof that US is at war with Islam. These events gave jihadist groups a lot of material to spread the idea that America and the West are trying to harm Muslim countries, disrespect their religion and take away their dignity. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In addition, Trump's harsh words about Muslims help jihadist groups promote a black-and-white view of the world. This view says Muslims and non-Muslims are natural enemies and can never live peacefully together. This idea fits perfectly with IS's way of thinking, which divides the world into dar al-Islam (land of Islam) and dar al-harb (land of war), leaving no room for peace or neutrality, say experts. Internal division in US Jihadist groups often praise Trump because they believe his way of leading will cause more problems inside US. They think that his controversial policies and fiery public statements will lead to civil unrest, more racial tension and stronger political fights. This, they believe, will keep the US government and people too distracted to focus on stopping terrorist groups in other parts of the world. The BBC report says that jihadists hope Trump's 'divisive politics' will not only split American society but also make it harder for US to show strength in other countries. If America turns its attention inward, jihadist groups in places like the West Asia, Africa and South Asia could have more freedom to grow and act. Jihadists even see the chance of the US falling apart—whether through political chaos or economic problems—as a sign of divine help for their cause. These fears are further fuelled by recent domestic moves, including controversial appointments to key religious advisory roles. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Controversial appointments to White House Religious Liberty Board According to a report in The Economic Times, President Trump appointed Ismail Royer and Shaykh Hamza Yusuf to a new advisory board under the White House Religious Liberty Commission, sparking debate due to their controversial pasts. Royer, once convicted in a terrorism case linked to terrorist training in Pakistan, now works in religious advocacy, promoting interfaith dialogue. Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, an Islamic scholar and founder of Zaytuna College, is known for his contributions to Islamic education and interfaith cooperation. Critics, led by commentator Lara Loomer, allege both men have past associations with extremist ideologies. Royer served prison time for helping others join a jihadist group, though he has since renounced extremism. Yusuf is accused of having made sympathetic remarks about figures linked to terrorism and attending events tied to controversial causes. While these claims remain unproven or unaddressed by Yusuf, their appointments have raised concerns over the vetting process and the message it sends on religious freedom and national security. Shared social values Surprisingly, another reason some jihadists support Trump is because they see him as having similar conservative social values. Many of Trump's supporters are evangelical Christians and far-right groups who strongly believe in religion. Even though their beliefs are very different from those of jihadists, both sides are against things like liberal ideas, secularism and LGBTQ+ rights. This creates a strange kind of connection between them as both want a society based on strict moral rules. Jihadist groups have noticed this shared outlook and have used it in their messaging. Reports say that some Islamists even admire how Trump talks about protecting religious freedom (even though it's focussed on Christianity) and how he supports traditional family values. While jihadists don't accept his version of Christianity, they do see a chance to join forces—indirectly—in fighting against modern liberal and secular values. Dangerous statements on Gaza Trump's strong and controversial comments about Gaza have given jihadist recruiters new material to use. In February 2025, NBC News reported that Trump suggested US should 'take over' and 'develop' the Gaza Strip and he also talked about forcing Palestinians to move elsewhere. These comments caused outrage around the world. Counterterrorism expert Marc Polymeropoulos explained that this kind of language acts as a 'triggering mechanism' for jihadist groups. It helps them tell a story that US is an imperialist power trying to control and remove Muslims from their land. Lucas Webber from Tech Against Terrorism also pointed out that the suffering of Palestinians has always played a big role in jihadist propaganda. According to the NBC News report, Trump's words make that message even stronger by suggesting that Western countries, especially US, are not just ignoring Muslim suffering—they are helping to cause it. In this way, Trump's statements become powerful tools for jihadist groups to encourage violence against American targets. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Trump as the 'perfect enemy' One of the clearest examples of why jihadists respect Trump comes from Tarek, a former IS fighter interviewed by Foreign Affairs. He called Trump 'the perfect enemy' because his aggressive and unpredictable behaviour supports the jihadist way of thinking. Trump's election did not scare them. Instead, it made their belief stronger that Muslims cannot live peacefully with the West and that jihad is the only option for Muslims. Jihadists also see Trump's personality—often seen as irrational and dangerous—as fitting their religious prophecies. Former IS members have said that they view Trump not just as an enemy, but as someone chosen by God to speed up this important event in history. The way jihadists see Trump also helps explain why India is worried about his recent foreign policy decisions. Trump's shifting alliances raise red flags in New Delhi According to a Firstpost article, despite claiming to avoid interfering in other nations' affairs, President Trump repeatedly hinted at a willingness to get involved in a highly sensitive area for India — Jammu and Kashmir. His comments, combined with overtures to Islamist forces across West and South Asia, have alarmed New Delhi. India had initially expected Trump to align more closely with its stance on Pakistan and terrorism, but his open praise for Pakistan and negotiations with terror groups have presented new diplomatic hurdles. Previous US administrations engaged with both India and Pakistan during regional tensions without overtly favouring one side. In contrast, Trump disregarded that careful balance, openly complimenting both countries and minimising the distinction between their political systems — one a robust democracy, the other under military influence. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Trump also maintained close ties with Turkey, whose leader, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has been a vocal supporter of Pakistan. Turkish military equipment played a role in recent attacks on India, and while Turkey openly backed Pakistan, Trump refrained from criticising Pakistan's harbouring of terrorists — deepening India's concerns about shifting US priorities. A useful adversary, not a friend Jihadist support for Trump is not because they agree with or admire him, but because they see his actions and personality as useful to their cause. Trump's harsh words about Muslims, his focus on keeping US out of foreign conflicts, his strong stance against Iran and his angry comments about Palestine all create a situation where jihadist groups can grow stronger in their messaging, actions and beliefs. For groups like IS and Al Qaeda, Trump is a lucky opponent. His politics divide people and help push more people toward radical ideas. His unpredictable behaviour causes instability around the world. His foreign policies give these groups things to use in their propaganda and chances to act more freely. Whether he realises it or not, Trump fits perfectly as an enemy who helps prove their ideas and make their movement bigger. In this surprising and ironic way, Trump's efforts to fight jihadism may actually be speeding up the big conflict jihadists want with the West—a battle they believe will not end with their defeat, but with their victory. Trump presidency is exactly what they want. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD