Colonel Nathan McCormack has been removed from his advisory role with the Joint Chiefs of Staff after his controversial social media posts about Israel came to light. McCormack, who served as the Levant and Egypt branch chief, made several inflammatory comments on his X account, including calling Israel a “death cult” and criticizing Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu.
The Department of Defense confirmed McCormack’s removal, stating that his views do not represent the Joint Staff or the department. They emphasized the importance of global alliances for national security. A Joint Staff official mentioned that the matter would be referred to the U.S. Army for further action.
McCormack’s posts stirred controversy, particularly after the Hamas attack on Israeli civilians on October 7. He expressed his views on various topics, including the perceived influence of Holocaust guilt on Western nations’ support for Israel and questioned whether the U.S. acts as a proxy for Israel.
His account, which has since been deleted, included detailed remarks about his official duties and his interactions with Israeli Defense Forces. He also raised concerns about the casualty figures reported by the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry, suggesting that the Department of Defense finds these figures generally reliable.
Before his removal, McCormack had been vocal about his opinions regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, raising eyebrows within military and government circles. The Department of Defense has strict guidelines for social media use, which McCormack’s posts seemingly violated.
This incident highlights the challenges military personnel face in balancing personal expression with professional responsibilities, particularly on sensitive topics like international relations.