WASHINGTON (AP) - The U.S. State Department has terminated press officer Shahed Ghoreishi, who had been drafting policy talking points concerning Israel and Gaza during the Trump administration. This decision was made after complaints were raised by the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem regarding Ghoreishi’s adherence to the administration's policies.
Ghoreishi, an Iranian American contractor for the Bureau of Near East Affairs, was dismissed over the weekend following two incidents in which his loyalty to former President Donald Trump’s policies was questioned. His termination has drawn considerable attention, especially after being publicly targeted by right-wing media personality Laura Loomer, who accused him of not fully supporting the administration's Middle Eastern policies.
According to Ghoreishi and two U.S. officials, tension escalated after he drafted a response to a query from The Associated Press regarding discussions between Israel and South Sudan on the potential relocation of Palestinians from Gaza. The draft response included a statement that the U.S. does not endorse the forced relocation of Gazans, a position that Trump and his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, have reiterated. However, this line was rejected by the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem, resulting in scrutiny of U.S. policy back in Washington.
Furthermore, Ghoreishi expressed concerns over a statement from the embassy referring to the West Bank as "Judea and Samaria," a term favored by some right-wing Israeli officials. Mike Huckabee, the U.S. ambassador to Israel, has also supported this reference.
The removal of Ghoreishi reflects the lengths to which the Trump administration has gone to demand loyalty from its staff, particularly concerning foreign policy that strongly supports Israel amid ongoing conflict with Hamas. In a broader context, the administration recently revoked the security clearances of 37 current and former national security officials who had previously signed a critical letter against Trump, highlighting a pattern of retribution against perceived disloyalty.
In his own words, Ghoreishi stated, "Despite a close working relationship with many of my dedicated and hardworking colleagues, I was targeted following two events last week when I attracted the ire of the 7th floor and senior officials in Embassy Jerusalem: stating we are against forced displacement of Palestinians in Gaza as President Trump and special envoy Witkoff have both previously claimed and cutting a reference to Judea and Samaria." He expressed confusion over why he was singled out without clear explanation, raising questions about the direction of U.S. policy on the Israel-Palestine issue.
The State Department has chosen not to comment on the specifics of Ghoreishi's dismissal, labeling it an internal personnel matter. Deputy State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott indicated that the department maintains a "zero tolerance" policy for any misconduct involving leaks or the disclosure of confidential information, reiterating the importance of aligning personal beliefs with the agenda of the elected President. The firing was first reported by The Washington Post.
Loomer, who claimed she influenced Ghoreishi's removal, alleged that he had ties to pro-Iran groups and jihadists—a point Ghoreishi disputes. In an unrelated but notable development, just days prior to his dismissal, the State Department announced a halt on all visitor visas for individuals from Gaza pending a review. This decision came in the wake of Loomer posting videos on social media displaying children from Gaza arriving in the U.S. for medical treatment and questioning the legitimacy of their visas.
