Republican reveals why Kamala Harris’ top advisor’s cozy Iran relationship is a ‘danger to all Americans’_l
Republicans are voicing concerns about Vice President Kamala Harris and her position on Israel, pointing to her foreign policy advisor Phil Gordon as a cause for concern.
Gordon serves as Harris’ most trusted advisor on foreign policy issues, as his allies have credited him for his influence of the vice president and her articulation of her carefully woven narrative on the subject.
Harris has defended Israel’s right to defend itself but has also criticized them for failing to reduce civilian casualties.
Republicans, however, are concerned that Gordon’s views and connections surrounding Iran are worrisome, especially surrounding the issue of Israeli relations with the United States.
Republican GOP Conference Chair Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York warned that Gordon’s views on Iran could be a significant problem, telling DailyMail.com in an exclusive statement that his influence ‘is a danger to all Americans.’
Democratic presidential nominee and U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris boards Air Force 2
‘Republicans will continue to hold Kamala Harris accountable for the radical anti-Israel, Iranian regime puppets within her inner circle that have made the world less safe,’ she said.
Gordon has worked for three different Democratic administrations beginning with former President Bill Clinton, former president Barack Obama and now in the Biden administration, advising Harris.
Recent news profiles of Gordon reassure readers he is a ‘pragmatist’ in foreign policy, with heavy skepticism about the ability of the United States to topple dictators in the Middle East and build up democracy.
Already part of the foreign policy establishment, Gordon would continue on the same path but with a dose of skepticism on the limits of American power.
Dr. Phil Gordon speaks on stage during the Council on Foreign Relations’ 2024 International Affairs Fellowship (IAF) Conference
Vice President Kamala Harris is flanked by French President Emmanuel Macron and National Security Advisor Phil Gordon (right) attend a meeting
But foreign policy experts in Congress are raising concerns about views on Iran and Israel and are scrutinizing his views on how the United States should interact with them.
When Trump took power in 2016, Gordon was a critic of his foreign policy efforts to challenge Iran.
‘How Can Trump Help Iran’s Protesters? Be Quiet,’ wrote Gordon in 2017, scolding Trump for voicing support for political protesters in the country. He also advised against tightening sanctions against Iran in 2018.
He was even more troubled in 2018 after Trump ended the Iranian nuclear deal.
‘We’ve just thrown that all away,’ he lamented in an interview with NPR, describing Trump’s decision as wrong and misguided.
Chair of the House Republican Conference Elise Stefanik (C), along with House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (L) and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R), speaks at a press conference
Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-NY., speaks during the Republican National Convention Tuesday, July 16, 2024, in Milwaukee.
‘This is really a big deal, and it seems that the president has taken this leap into the dark without really a plan or even an explanation as to what’s supposed to happen,’ he added.
Gordon also advised against piling on sanctions on Iran, warning that pressuring the government financially would only lead them to lash out against their neighbors.
Trump frequently boasts that he had pressured Iran to the point of them going broke, unable and unwilling to fund and launch major terrorist attacks.
Gordon’s repeated soft approach on Iran triggered the interest of Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas and Stefanik, who both warned in a letter of his ties to pro-Iranian interests.
Gordon also advised against piling on sanctions on Iran, warning that pressuring the government financially would only lead them to lash out against their neighbors
US Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama’s team of advisors (from L) Richard Danzig (National Security), Phil Gordon (Foreign Policy), Wendy Morigi (National Security), Dr. Susan Rice (Foreign Policy), Dennis Ross (Middle East Policy) and David Axelrod (Chief Strategist)
Gordon coauthored some of his opinion articles with Ariane Tabatabai, an official who was a founding member of a pro-Iranian advocacy group, the Iran Experts Initiative. He also delivered speeches to the National Iranian American Council, another pro-Iranian influence group.
Cotton and Stefanik warned in their letter to Harris whether she was aware of Gordon’s ties with pro-Iranian individuals.
‘The Biden-Harris Administration is no stranger to Iran accommodators, appeasers, and accomplices,’ the letter read.
Gordon served as the White House Coordinator for the Middle East and Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs in the Obama administration.
He has advised Harris to take a more nuanced position on the Israeli and Palestinian conflict without appearing to abandon Israel as an ally.
But Gordon is also working to earn respect from other sides of the political spectrum.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Gordon warned Harris about Biden’s plan to withdraw troops from Afghanistan, advising that the administration support the idea of preserving a residual force behind to keep the Taliban from taking over the government.
Despite Gordon’s advice, Harris resolved to side with President Biden, and she famously stated she was the ‘last one in the room’ on the pullout decision.
Gordon also advised Obama that it would difficult to force Syria’s Bashar al-Assad out of power, according to reports, despite others who believed that backing the Syrian rebels could force him out of power.
But he is also believed to be a hawk on the issue of Russia, fulling supporting the ongoing Ukrainian war without trying to resolve the two country’s differences with concessions or negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
