The following report is now a complimentary offering from MEMRI's Jihad and Terrorism Threat Monitor (JTTM). For JTTM subscription information, click here.
Jihadi Telegram channels and those linked to Iran-backed militias in Iraq reacted to former U.S. President Donald Trump's arraignment at a federal court in Miami on June 13, 2023, where he pleaded not guilty to charges that he retained classified national security documents after he left the White House and obstructed government efforts to retrieve them.
Posts further reacted to some of the remarks the former President made at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, in which he accused the current U.S. administration of "running a legal psychological warfare campaign against the American people, much as if they were trying to destabilize a foreign country."
'U.S. Spent Billions On Media Warfare Against ISIS'
In this regard, a pro-Islamic State (ISIS) Telegram channel posted an image of President Trump with text citing the U.S. Congress as saying that the cost of the U.S. psychological warfare campaign against ISIS was $5.8 billion.[1]
The poster read: "5.8 billion dollars is the cost of the media campaign aimed at distorting [the image] of the so-called Islamic State, spent on advocacy institutes, scholars, televisions, and media warfare [which] is still ongoing – source: The U.S. Congress."
Commenting, the channel also cited a Quranic verse about money spent on fighting Islam: "Indeed, those who disbelieve spend their wealth to hinder [men] from the path of Allah, and so will they continue to spend it; but in the end it will become an anguish for them. Then they will be overcome. And those who disbelieve will be gathered unto Hell."
It further used the occasion to counter ISIS opponents such as Al-Qaeda, who claims that ISIS is collaborating with the U.S.: "After this, the slaves, the disgraceful, and the hired donkeys claim that the Islamic State is an agent of the West, the East, the South, and the North."
'Those Who Betray Jihad Should Be Held Accountable, Like Trump'
Syrian jihadi cleric Sheikh Majid Al-Rashid argued in a post on Telegram that the charges against Trump should be a lesson for jihadis, who should hold accountable those who betray the Syrian revolution. Though the post did not name the "traitor," Al-Rashid has been a frequent critic of Hay'at Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) leader Abu Mohammad Al-Joulani.[2]
"America's President, Trump, is on trial because he kept classified documents in his house! So, what about someone who turned against the revolution, relapsed from jihad, and threw himself into the arms of intelligence services? And his wickedness got worse after he gained power, thanks to the slackness of some, support from others, and poor resourcefulness of the majority. What should we do with him? All [kinds of punishments] are not enough."
'Criminal Trump'
Celebrating President Trump's arraignment, the "Sabereen News" Telegram channel, which is linked to Iran-backed militias in Iraq, reported extensively on the arraignment, focusing mostly on security measures taken to deter any potential violence by President Trump's supporters. It also focused on Trump's remarks in which he said that the "nation is in decline."
One post highlighted that the judge had released Trump unconditionally. Commenting on his release, the channel shared a GIF showing a traditionally dressed man hiding his face with an Aqal (head cover), apparently trying to sneak around without being recognized.[3]
Suggesting that President Trump is in the same situation, the post said: "How Trump, the criminal, is feeling right now."
The full text of this post is available to subscribers.
Please login or register to request subscription information from MEMRI
