SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
Charles M. Kupperman, the acting national security advisor, has been criticized for his views in the past. (Image: screenshot, Embassy of Afghanistan)
Bolton's Replacement Charles Kupperman 'Another Islamophobe,' Charge Critics
"In Washington, D.C. today, the more things change, the more they stay the same."
Sep 10, 2019
While progressives celebrated the departure of John Bolton as President Donald Trump's national security advisor, that joy is likely to be shortlived due to the character of Bolton's acting replacement, Charles M. Kupperman.
Kupperman has been a member of the boards of a number of defense contractors, including Lockheed Martin and Boeing. He served in the Ronald Reagan administration and boasts a decades-long relationship with Bolton.
Bolton referred to the two men's longstanding ties in a statement in January when Kupperman was first appointed his deputy.
"Charlie Kupperman has been an advisor to me for more than thirty years, including during my tenure as National Security Advisor to President Trump," Bolton said at the time. "Charlie's extensive expertise in defense, arms control and aerospace will help further President Trump's national security agenda."
Critics say that Kupperman is a right-wing extremist, pointing to his connections to infamous Islamophobe Frank Gaffney through the latter's Center for Security Policy (CSP), where Kupperman served on the board from 2001-2010. CSP is a major booster of a conspiracy theory alleging the Muslim Brotherhood has infiltrated the U.S. government.
In a statement, Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) executive director Nihad Awad said that while Bolton's departure was a welcome development, "we cannot simply replace one Islamophobe with another."
"CSP has continuously promoted Islamophobic conspiracy theories, and anyone, like Mr. Kupperman, who has so closely associated with them for so long is --at the very least--complicit in their brand of anti-Muslim bigotry," said Awad, "and should not be entrusted with one of the highest ranking security roles in the United States."
Writer Jeffrey Kaye was more bunt in his assessment of Kupperman, tweeting that Kupperman is "a Reaganite neanderthal Islamophobe, a creature of the defense industry, and a very close associate of Bolton himself."
"In Washington, D.C. today," said Kaye, "the more things change, the more they stay the same."
Why Your Ongoing Support Is Essential
Donald Trump’s attacks on democracy, justice, and a free press are escalating — putting everything we stand for at risk. We believe a better world is possible, but we can’t get there without your commitment. Common Dreams stands apart. We answer only to you — our readers, activists, and changemakers — not to billionaires or corporations. Our independence allows us to cover the vital stories that others won’t, spotlighting movements for peace, equality, and human rights. Right now, our work faces unprecedented challenges. Misinformation is spreading, journalists are under attack, and financial pressures are mounting. As a reader-supported, nonprofit newsroom, your support is crucial to keep this journalism alive. While every gift matters and makes a powerful difference, it gives us the stability to invest confidently in in-depth, fearless reporting — the kind of journalism that holds power accountable and fuels real change. Whatever you can give — $10, $25, or $100 — your steady support helps us stay strong and responsive when the world needs us most. Together, we’ll continue to build the independent, courageous journalism our movement relies on. Thank you for being part of this community. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
While progressives celebrated the departure of John Bolton as President Donald Trump's national security advisor, that joy is likely to be shortlived due to the character of Bolton's acting replacement, Charles M. Kupperman.
Kupperman has been a member of the boards of a number of defense contractors, including Lockheed Martin and Boeing. He served in the Ronald Reagan administration and boasts a decades-long relationship with Bolton.
Bolton referred to the two men's longstanding ties in a statement in January when Kupperman was first appointed his deputy.
"Charlie Kupperman has been an advisor to me for more than thirty years, including during my tenure as National Security Advisor to President Trump," Bolton said at the time. "Charlie's extensive expertise in defense, arms control and aerospace will help further President Trump's national security agenda."
Critics say that Kupperman is a right-wing extremist, pointing to his connections to infamous Islamophobe Frank Gaffney through the latter's Center for Security Policy (CSP), where Kupperman served on the board from 2001-2010. CSP is a major booster of a conspiracy theory alleging the Muslim Brotherhood has infiltrated the U.S. government.
In a statement, Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) executive director Nihad Awad said that while Bolton's departure was a welcome development, "we cannot simply replace one Islamophobe with another."
"CSP has continuously promoted Islamophobic conspiracy theories, and anyone, like Mr. Kupperman, who has so closely associated with them for so long is --at the very least--complicit in their brand of anti-Muslim bigotry," said Awad, "and should not be entrusted with one of the highest ranking security roles in the United States."
Writer Jeffrey Kaye was more bunt in his assessment of Kupperman, tweeting that Kupperman is "a Reaganite neanderthal Islamophobe, a creature of the defense industry, and a very close associate of Bolton himself."
"In Washington, D.C. today," said Kaye, "the more things change, the more they stay the same."
While progressives celebrated the departure of John Bolton as President Donald Trump's national security advisor, that joy is likely to be shortlived due to the character of Bolton's acting replacement, Charles M. Kupperman.
Kupperman has been a member of the boards of a number of defense contractors, including Lockheed Martin and Boeing. He served in the Ronald Reagan administration and boasts a decades-long relationship with Bolton.
Bolton referred to the two men's longstanding ties in a statement in January when Kupperman was first appointed his deputy.
"Charlie Kupperman has been an advisor to me for more than thirty years, including during my tenure as National Security Advisor to President Trump," Bolton said at the time. "Charlie's extensive expertise in defense, arms control and aerospace will help further President Trump's national security agenda."
Critics say that Kupperman is a right-wing extremist, pointing to his connections to infamous Islamophobe Frank Gaffney through the latter's Center for Security Policy (CSP), where Kupperman served on the board from 2001-2010. CSP is a major booster of a conspiracy theory alleging the Muslim Brotherhood has infiltrated the U.S. government.
In a statement, Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) executive director Nihad Awad said that while Bolton's departure was a welcome development, "we cannot simply replace one Islamophobe with another."
"CSP has continuously promoted Islamophobic conspiracy theories, and anyone, like Mr. Kupperman, who has so closely associated with them for so long is --at the very least--complicit in their brand of anti-Muslim bigotry," said Awad, "and should not be entrusted with one of the highest ranking security roles in the United States."
Writer Jeffrey Kaye was more bunt in his assessment of Kupperman, tweeting that Kupperman is "a Reaganite neanderthal Islamophobe, a creature of the defense industry, and a very close associate of Bolton himself."
"In Washington, D.C. today," said Kaye, "the more things change, the more they stay the same."
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.