Mystery Deepens as Pentagon Fires Colonel Nathan McCormack
US Army Colonel Nathan McCormack (Image X.com)
The investigation into McCormack’s conduct is ongoing, with potential implications for his military career. The development came amid the US mulling joining Israel in attacking Iran.
By TRH News Desk
NEW DELHI, June 19, 2025 – The Pentagon removed US Army Colonel Nathan McCormack from his position on the Joint Chiefs of Staff’s J5 planning directorate following a series of inflammatory anti-Israel posts on social media, prompting an internal investigation. The decision, confirmed by US defence officials, sparked debate over free speech and military conduct.
McCormack, who served as the Levant and Egypt branch chief since June 2024, was sidelined after the Jewish News Syndicate (JNS) reported on his semi-anonymous X account, where he referred to Israel as a “death cult” and America’s “worst ally.” He also criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling him and his allies “Judeo-supremacist cronies,” and accused the US of enabling Israel’s “bad behaviour.” A Pentagon official told JNS that McCormack “will no longer be on the joint staff while the matter is being investigated,” emphasizing that his posts “do not reflect the position of the Joint Staff or the Department of Defence.”
The Daily Wire reported that McCormack’s posts, which included claims that Israel’s military actions “disproportionately target Palestinian civilians,” were deemed incompatible with his role advising the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs on Israel-related matters. A Joint Staff official told The Daily Wire that the Department of Defence referred the matter to the US Army for further action, underscoring that “our global alliances and partnerships are vital to our national security.”
Elizabeth Robbins, a retired Army officer and analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told JNS, “The issue here is his X account is quickly traceable to a senior US Army officer who works at the Pentagon focused on the Middle East. A member of the military can hold whatever positions they want on US national security and foreign policy, but they should refrain from publicizing those opinions.” A Pentagon contractor, who interacted with McCormack, described the posts as “dangerous” and “mind-boggling” for an officer of his rank, warning that such public statements could make him “an easy mark for foreign intelligence agencies.”
Fox News confirmed McCormack’s removal, citing a US defence official who noted that the colonel’s posts, including hundreds written since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks, violated Pentagon social media policies. These guidelines caution against using official titles or affiliations in ways that imply government endorsement of personal views.
The investigation into McCormack’s conduct is ongoing, with potential implications for his military career. The development came amid the US mulling joining Israel in attacking Iran. Experts said that Iran surprised the US with its missile firepower, which caused extensive destructions in residential areas in Israel.
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