Latest news with #Fugate
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump reportedly named 22-year-old college grad to lead counterterrorism. Here's what we know
In early June 2025, rumors circulated that the person U.S. President Donald Trump chose to lead counterterrorism efforts at the Department of Homeland Security was Thomas Fugate, a 22-year-old college graduate with no national security experience. For example, this June 6, 2025, video on Instagram described him as a "22-year-old, fresh-out-of-college former gardener" (archived): This wasn't the first post to make the claim. On June 5, 2025, X user Ron Filipkowski shared the claim with a photo of Fugate (archived): The post had gained 565,700 views and 4,900 likes as of this writing. Other X posts (archived, archived) relayed the claims, as did posts on Reddit (archived), Facebook (archived), Threads (archived) and Instagram (archived). The rumor stemmed from a June 4, 2025, report by ProPublica, which recounted how Fugate was installed at the helm of the Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships, known as CP3. Snopes was not able to independently review Fugate's LinkedIn profile, which was deleted after the publication of the report. Therefore, we were not able to confirm the claims directly. However we reached out to him and to DHS and we will update this report should they respond. Former U.S. President Joe Biden's administration established CP3 in 2021 to replace the Office for Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention, saying in a news release that the new center was set up "to combat terrorism and targeted violence, consistent with privacy protections, civil rights and civil liberties, and other applicable laws." In particular, it aimed to gather intelligence on radical extremism within the U.S. and to develop the competencies to prevent domestic terrorism. Its About page says CP3 boasts a multidisciplinary approach with a team that includes a variety of profiles and expertise. Such an organization requires knowledge and experience from the person who leads it, according to unnamed sources cited in the ProPublica report. However, nothing in Fugate's public profile indicated he had such knowledge and experience, ProPublica said. According to a report by The Daily Beast, a review of his now-deleted LinkedIn profile revealed he had worked at an H-E-B grocery store in Texas while in college. In 2020, when he was 17, he worked as a "landscape business owner," the same report said. ProPublica's article added that he graduated magna cum laude from the University of Texas at San Antonio, an academic career that included an internship at the Heritage Foundation, the far-right think tank that appears to have at least partially set the course for Trump's second administration. Later, Fugate reportedly took part in Trump's 2024 presidential campaign. Aside from that, nothing indicated he was qualified for the post at CP3, the reports indicated. In contrast, CP3's previous director, Bill Braniff, was a U.S. Army veteran. He brought to the position more than 20 years of experience in counterterrorism, according to his LinkedIn profile. He left CP3 in March 2025 to become the executive director of the Polarization & Extremism Research & Innovation Lab at the School of Public Affairs at American University. Fugate's appointment sowed concern among anonymous counterterrorism experts ProPublica interviewed, who called it "reckless." Some described it as symptomatic of the direction the Trump administration was taking, focusing on immigration and away from preventing homegrown violent extremism. Snopes has contacted DHS and CP3 to confirm reporting on the various elements of Fugate's résumé and to inquire further about what, in their view, made Fugate an ideal candidate for this job. We will update this report should they respond. Allam, Hannah. "'The Intern in Charge': Meet the 22-Year-Old Trump's Team Picked to Lead Terrorism Prevention." ProPublica, 4 June 2025, Accessed 6 June 2025. "DHS Creates New Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships and Additional Efforts to Comprehensively Combat Domestic Violent Extremism | Homeland Security." U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 11 May 2021, Accessed 6 June 2025. Latchem, Tom. "Trump Appoints 22-Year-Old Ex-Gardener and Grocery Store Assistant to Lead U.S. Terror Prevention." The Daily Beast, 5 June 2025, Accessed 6 June 2025. "PERIL Welcomes New Executive Director Bill Braniff." American University, 24 Mar. 2025, Accessed 6 June 2025. "Who We Are | Homeland Security." Accessed 6 June 2025. Wrona, Aleksandra and Nur Ibrahim. "What's Project 2025? Unpacking the Pro-Trump Plan to Overhaul US Government." Snopes, 3 July 2024,
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump Appoints 22-Year-Old Ex-Gardener and Grocery Store Assistant to Lead U.S. Terror Prevention
The inexperienced 22-year-old reportedly tasked by Donald Trump with tackling U.S. extremism was working as a neighborhood gardener just five years ago and in a grocery store as recently as August 2023, the Daily Beast can reveal. Thomas Fugate, who graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio just 12 months ago, is currently heading up the Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships at the DHS, as first reported by ProPublica Tuesday. The center, also known as CP3, plays a vital role supporting nationwide efforts to combat terrorism and hate-fueled violence. But according to the youngster's LinkedIn page, Fugate has almost no experience in this field—and in 2020 was working as a self-employed 'Landscape Business Owner.' There isn't much else on his resumé to suggest Fugate has the requisite skills to weed out terrorists. Prior to his work as a gardener—while studying for a degree in politics and law—Fugate worked at an H-E-B supermarket in Austin, Texas, as a 'Cross Functional Team Member.' According to his LinkedIn, he would 'perform various activities around every department of the store, fulfilling key duties contributing to store operations.' Since leaving college, Fugate has had a meteoric rise in the political world, having served as an 'advance team member' on President Donald Trump's 2024 campaign, according to his LinkedIn page. An avowed Republican, he also interned at the Heritage Foundation, the think tank behind Project 2025, and for Texas Representatives Terry Wilson and Steve Allison. Fugate was reportedly hired as a 'special assistant' in an immigration office at the DHS in February, according to ProPublica. He then took over CP3 after its previous director quit. Fugate did not immediately respond to The Daily Beast's request for comment. 'Tom Fugate has performed well in his current role as a Confidential Assistant in our Immigration & Border Security suboffice,' a senior DHS official told The Daily Beast. 'Due to his success, he has been temporarily given additional leadership responsibilities in the Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships office (CP3). This is a credit to his work ethic and success on the job.' Fugate set up a political Instagram account last year, where his profile contains the motto, 'Men used to do great things. I believe they still can.' He has posted a number of photos from the campaign trail and his time in Washington, D.C. He also posted a video that showed him with a host of lesser lights in the Republican party, including the disgraced former congressman Madison Cawthorn, Kennedy Center President Ric Grenell, and MAGA personality Riley Gaines. He is also pictured with Texas Governor Greg Abbott and former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. An older account in the name of Trey Fugate on X suggests that he was a fan of LEGO and Star Wars. He used the social media account to call on Texas politicians 'to protect the international affairs budget!' and 'Help the global poor, save lives.' That was just two years before he launched his new MAGA personality with the thomas4texas Instagram account, saying: 'Legend has it that Thomas Fugate didn't start the fire 🔥, but that is always been burning since the world's been turning 🤔. Welcome all to my new account for public service, community involvement, and politics 🇺🇸. Recently things have got to the point where I felt like my main account has become too focused on politics, so I wanted to switch things up!' The plethora of selfies and portraits plastered across his social media accounts suggest that the wryly arched eyebrow Fugate chose for his LinkedIn profile—a photograph taken in front of the seal of the Department of Homeland Security—was very much a knowing choice from a young man who seems to think he is destined for the top.
India Today
06-06-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Trump names 22-year-old to lead major terrorism prevention centre
Thomas Fugatea, a 22-year-old college graduate, with no previous government leadership or security experience, is now heading the Centre for Prevention Programs and Partnerships, commonly referred to as CP3, at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in the US. Fugate, a former gardener and grocery store worker who graduated from college last year, was hired by DHS in February, The Daily Mail reported, citing his LinkedIn replaced veteran Bill Braniff, who had more than 20 years of experience in national security. While the Trump administration defends the move, critics call it "reckless".It is DHS's main platform to fight terrorism within the US. CP3 also boasts an $18 million grant program, which Fugate will have responsibility for. The Trump administration fiercely defended the move, praising in particular Fugate's work ethic, according to a report in the Daily Mail. Fugate's LinkedIn profile, which lacks all the details on him, does not list any background in counterterrorism or related security S BACKGROUND INCLUDES WORK IN LANDSCAPING AND RETAILDespite no relevant experience for the job, Fugate does have an impressive internship history, having worked for the conservative Heritage Foundation and in the House of Representatives, The Daily Mail professional page also mentions time spent running a gardening and landscaping business, along with experience as a grocery store news about his appointment caused concerns among counterterrorism experts and nonprofit groups supported by said they turned to LinkedIn for intel on Fugate — an unknown in their field — and were stunned to see a photo of "a college kid" with a flag pin on his lapel posing with a sharply arched eyebrow," ProPublica, a New York-based news portal, reported."Maybe he's a wunderkind. Maybe he's Doogie Howser and has everything at 21-years-old, or whatever he is, to lead the office. But that's not likely the case," ProPublica quoted one counterterrorism researcher who has worked with CP3 officials for years as saying. "It sounds like putting the intern in charge," the researcher the past seven weeks, the US has seen at least five major targeted attacks, including a car bombing in California and the shooting of two Israeli Embassy staff members in this backdrop, current and former national security officials say the Trump administration's decision to shift counterterrorism resources to immigration and leave the violence-prevention portfolio to inexperienced appointees is "reckless," according to ProPublica. "We're entering very dangerous territory," one long-time US counterterrorism official HOUSE SLAMS PROPUBLICA REPORTadvertisementThe White House pushed back on the ProPublica report, saying that CP3 is not responsible for all counterterrorism functions."Combatting terrorism is a government-wide effort under the Trump Administration," White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson told The Daily Mail in a statement.'"The notion that this single office is responsible for preventing terrorism is not only incorrect, it's ignorant," Jackson replaced army veteran Bill Braniff, who stepped down in March following a 20% staff cut by the Trump administration. He had over 20 years' experience in national security. "If I cannot advance the prevention mission from inside the government for now, I will do what I can outside of government," he wrote in a LinkedIn post announcing his resignation, according to a report in The Independent."CP3 is the inheritor of the primary and founding mission of DHS, to prevent terrorism," he taking up the new leadership responsibilities, Fugate was hired as a "special assistant" in an immigration office at the DHS, The Independent was involved in the Trump campaign last year and attended the Republican National Convention. He also held the role of secretary general in a Model United Nations senior DHS official, in a statement, told ProPublica that Fugate's CP3 duties were added to his role as an aide in an Immigration & Border Security office."Due to his success, he has been temporarily given additional leadership responsibilities in the Centre for Prevention Programs and Partnerships office," the official told the outlet. "This is a credit to his work ethic and success on the job," he added.
Metro
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Metro
Donald Trump's new anti-terror chief is a former gardener born after 9/11
Meet Thomas Fugate, former gardener, supermarket assistant and now, the man reportedly tasked by Donald Trump with tackling US extremism. At the mere age of 22, Fugate was born after the 9/11 Al-Qaeda attacks – but he has just been handed one of the most complex jobs in American national security. It is the kind of a career jump that raises an eyebrow even under the shock-and-awe tactics within the Trump administration. The recent graduate of the University of Texas at San Antonio is currently heading up the Centre for Prevention Programmes and Partnerships at the Department for Homeland Security (DHS), as first reported by ProPublica. He landed a position on the president's campaign in 2024, and was later hired by DHS in February. Also known as CP3, the division within DHS plays a vital role supporting nationwide efforts to combat terrorism. After it was established in 2021, it has handed out around $90 million in funding to organisations working to prevent hate-fuelled violence. CP3 saw its staff reduced by approximately three-quarters during the early months of Trump's second term in office. It is one of the reasons why Fugate's appointment as a special assistant in the division is so jaw-dropping. One counterterrorism researcher who has worked with CP3 officials for years said it sounds 'like putting the intern in charge'. They added: 'Maybe he is a wunderkind. Maybe he is Doogie Howser and has everything at 21 years old, or whatever he is, to lead the office. But that's not likely the case.' According to his LinkedIn page – which has been deleted as the story of his promotion gathered heat – he has almost no experience in this field. Before his promotion, he was working as a neighborhood gardener just five years ago and in a supermarket as recently as August 2023. Fugate interned at the Heritage Foundation, the think tank behind Project 2025, and for Texas Representatives Terry Wilson and Steve Allison. His Instagram account, which has also been made private in the last 48 hours, shows his long-term support for Trump. More Trending A caption of a picture of Fugate snapped at a Trump rally read: 'There ain't no party like a Republican Party, and you can quote me on that one. 'You will truly never meet a more unique, interesting, enthusiastic, and patriotic group of people in one place that at the Republican National Convention, I can tell you that.' A statement from DHS said about the promotion: 'Due to his success, he has been temporarily given additional leadership responsibilities in the Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships office. 'This is a credit to his work ethic and success on the job.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Donald Trump and Elon Musk might make peace – but it will never last MORE: Ireland has a US border — it could help travellers nervous about Trump's America MORE: Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein's messy history amid fallout with Elon Musk
Time of India
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
22-year-old to lead DHS office: Trump picks ex-gardener Thomas Fugate to head prevention team; MAGA ties and little experience in security
Thomas Fugate (Image credits: X @justicemalala) Thomas Fugate, a 22-year-old with a background in gardening and grocery store work, has been appointed by US President Donald Trump to head the center for prevention programs and partnerships (CP3) at the department of homeland Security (DHS). Just five years ago, Fugate was working as a neighborhood gardener. As recently as August 2023, he held a job at a grocery store. A 2023 graduate of the University of Texas at San Antonio, Fugate has experienced a swift rise through Republican political circles. Fugate's LinkedIn page shows limited experience in the national security or policy field. In 2020, he listed himself as a self-employed 'landscape business owner.' He also worked as a 'cross functional team member' at an H-E-B supermarket in Austin, Texas. After completing his degree in politics and law, Fugate joined Trump's 2024 presidential campaign as an 'advance team member.' He has also interned at the conservative Heritage foundation and with Texas state representatives Terry Wilson and Steve Allison. In February, he was reportedly hired as a special assistant in an immigration office at DHS. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Esse novo alarme com câmera é quase gratuito em Petrópolis (consulte o preço) Alarmes Undo Following the resignation of the previous CP3 director, Fugate was named as the acting head of the center. 'Tom Fugate has performed well in his current role as a confidential assistant in our immigration & border security suboffice,' a DHS official told The Daily Beast. 'Due to his success, he has been temporarily given additional leadership responsibilities in the center for prevention programs and partnerships office (CP3). This is a credit to his work ethic and success on the job.' Earlier posts from his X account show a different tone, one of interest in global aid, LEGO, Star Wars, and international development. In past tweets, he encouraged Texas lawmakers to support the international affairs budget and aid for the global poor. Fugate later shifted toward a MAGA-aligned political image, rebranding himself with the 'thomas4texas' Instagram handle and announcing his entry into public service. His online profiles reflect a carefully constructed persona, including a LinkedIn photo in front of the DHS seal, hinting at confidence and ambition. His rapid promotion has sparked questions about experience and readiness, but DHS officials have stood by the decision, citing his work ethic and current performance.
