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President-Elect Donald Trump has appointed Sebastian Gorka as Deputy Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Counterterrorism and Alex Wong as Assistant to the President and Principal Deputy National Security Advisor.

Digging into Gorka: On Friday, President-Elect Donald Trump confirmed the appointment of Sebastian Gorka as Deputy Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Counterterrorism. Gorka, a British-Hungarian-American national security expert, has a long history of advising on foreign policy and counterterrorism. He previously served in Trump’s first administration as a Deputy Assistant to the President, focusing on national security strategy, and was later appointed to the National Security Education Board in 2020. Gorka earned a doctorate in political science from Corvinus University of Budapest and is the author of Defeating Jihad: The Winnable War, which outlines strategies for combating global terrorism. In addition to his government service, he has been a prominent media commentator and host, advocating for policies aligned with the “America First” agenda.

Controversies: Sebastian Gorka’s appointment has reignited significant controversy due to his contentious past and polarizing reputation. Critics have questioned his qualifications and credibility, with former National Security Advisor John Bolton sharply criticizing Gorka, calling him a “con man” and stating, “I wouldn’t have him in any US government.” Gorka’s views on Islam, including claims that violence is a fundamental aspect of the faith, have drawn widespread condemnation, as have his alleged ties to far-right Hungarian nationalist groups (which he denies). His academic credentials have also been scrutinized. During his first tenure in the Trump administration, Gorka faced opposition from White House staff, ultimately leading to his departure amidst internal disputes, which he attributed to “forces” opposing Trump’s agenda.

Digging into Wong: In addition to Gorka, President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Alex Wong as Assistant to the President and Principal Deputy National Security Advisor. Wong, a seasoned diplomat and policy expert, played a key role in Trump’s first administration as Deputy Special Representative for North Korea and Deputy Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs at the State Department. He was instrumental in coordinating diplomatic efforts that led to the historic 2018 summit between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.  

Criticism: Critics argue that the 2018 summit with Kim Jong Un, which Wong helped orchestrate, lacked substantive outcomes and inadvertently legitimized the North Korean regime without securing concrete commitments on denuclearization.