Global Jihadi Movement on the Defensive, Says Gorka
Dr. Sebastian Gorka, who served as Deputy Assistant to President Trump and as Senior Director for Counterterrorism on the National Security Council, recently noted that the global jihadi movement is currently “on the back foot.” Speaking with host Matthew Boyle on Breitbart News Saturday, he emphasized that the movement had ambitions to destabilize Arab monarchies in the Middle East and to challenge the West, particularly the United States. However, he claimed that America is “stronger than it has ever been” under Trump’s leadership.
Gorka pointed out that the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations are now “closer” to the U.S. than before. He emphasized that, particularly thanks to Trump’s guidance over the past 18 months, the global jihadi movement is struggling. “Their objectives from 25 years ago are clear—you don’t need insider knowledge to understand them,” he said, referencing unclassified statements from figures like bin Laden and the Muslim Brotherhood.
He continued, stating, “Their primary goal was to destabilize all the Arab monarchies, starting with Saudi Arabia, to gain control over Mecca and Medina. That plan? A total failure. The GCC is now more aligned with us, especially after Iran began to threaten them.”
Gorka also mentioned their second goal: undermining the West. “Look at the current state—America is thriving. We’ve seen progress in various areas, including our dealings with cartels and operations in Iran. Our military is revitalized under Trump, alongside leaders like Secretary of War Hegseth.”
In discussing the past 18 months, Gorka highlighted that following Trump’s return to the original protocols and rules of engagement, U.S. military forces have eliminated 1,081 global jihadists globally. “These were individuals planning attacks against Americans or who had previously harmed them. No other president has achieved such a high number of jihadists killed in such a brief period,” he stated.
Furthermore, Gorka pointed to the significant number of hostages rescued during this time, citing that President Trump has facilitated the release of 110 U.S. hostages who are now reunited with their families. This development, he noted, is just as crucial, if not more so, than the military successes.
