Jewish Dems Condemn Trump’s White Nationalist Ties, Evidenced by Latest National Security Appointments

WASHINGTON – The Jewish Democratic Council of America, the national voice of Jewish Democrats, strongly condemned President Trump’s selections of Darren Beattie and Joe Kent for key national security positions. 

Darren Beattie, who was just appointed to serve as the Acting Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy, was fired from the first Trump administration for speaking at a white nationalist conference and has since espoused racist, misogynistic, and conspiratorial views.

Joe Kent, appointed to lead the National Counterterrorism Center, has also espoused dangerous conspiracy theories and is aligned with dangerous right-wing extremists, including the Proud Boys. 

In response to these appointments, Halie Soifer, CEO of the Jewish Democratic Council of America, said:

“We strongly oppose Donald Trump’s appointments of Darren Beattie and Joe Kent to senior national security positions given their clear white nationalist ties. 

“Having served as a national security advisor in Congress and at the State Department, I firmly believe that Darren Beattie and Joe Kent should have no place in the U.S. government. I am appalled by these appointments, which speak volumes about this President’s penchant for white nationalism.

“These appointments aren’t an isolated incident. They demonstrate the far-right extremist ideology that is a centerpiece of this White House. We saw this on full display on Trump’s first day in office when he pardoned, commuted the sentences of, and released from jail more than 1,500 dangerous extremists, including the heads of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers. The threat posed by Trump’s extremism has only continued with these appointments.”

###