The U.S. State Department has terminated press officer Shahed Ghoreishi after complaints arose from the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem regarding his handling of Trump administration policy talking points about Israel and Gaza. Ghoreishi, a contractor for the Bureau of Near East Affairs, was let go following incidents that raised questions about his allegiance to the former administration's policies.
Ghoreishi, who is Iranian American, faced criticism from a senior official at the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem, as well as from top aides to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, after drafting a response to an inquiry from The Associated Press. The question pertained to discussions concerning the potential relocation of Palestinians from Gaza to South Sudan, which included a statement that the U.S. does not support the forced relocation of Palestinians. This position is one that President Donald Trump and his special envoy Steve Witkoff have consistently maintained.
However, Ghoreishi's draft response was rejected by the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem, prompting additional scrutiny of the policy back in Washington. In addition, Ghoreishi also challenged a statement from the embassy that referred to the West Bank as “Judea and Samaria,” a term favored by certain right-wing Israeli officials and supported by U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee.
The situation illustrates the extent to which the Trump administration sought loyalty to its policies, even resulting in the ouster of employees who publicly questioned or deviated from the administration's positions. Recently, the administration also revoked security clearances for 37 individuals, many of whom had expressed disapproval of Trump’s foreign policy strategies.
Ghoreishi stated that he believed he was unfairly targeted for expressing views that had been previously accepted by senior officials. He expressed concern that the administration's policies regarding Israel and Palestine would worsen, potentially turning a blind eye to what he termed ethnic cleansing. He noted that there had not been a clear explanation for his dismissal and raised alarms about the implications for U.S. foreign policy.
State Department representatives declined to address specific details related to Ghoreishi's firing, labeling it an internal personnel matter. Deputy State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott did state that the agency maintains a zero-tolerance approach for misconduct related to disclosing confidential information and emphasized the importance of aligning with the President’s agenda over personal political beliefs.
The entire episode has been further complicated by activities of right-wing personalities, including Laura Loomer, who claimed responsibility for Ghoreishi's removal. Loomer criticized him as being affiliated with pro-Iran groups, a claim that Ghoreishi has denied. Just days prior to the termination, the State Department had announced a halt to all visitor visas for individuals from Gaza, coinciding with Loomer’s social media posts questioning the issuance of these visas.
