Colonel Nathan McCormack has been removed from his high-level advisory role at the Joint Chiefs of Staff after a series of inflammatory, anti-Israel posts on social media came to light. The U.S. Army officer, who held a critical position in advising the Chairman on strategic matters relating to Israel, now faces further disciplinary action as the Department of Defense distances itself from his public comments.
McCormack served as the Levant and Egypt Branch Chief in the Joint Staff’s J5 strategic planning directorate. His role involved advising top military leadership, preparing briefings, and managing communications with key foreign partners, including Israel. According to his now-deleted LinkedIn and X profiles, McCormack assumed this role in June 2024.
However, his social media activity painted a very different picture of his views. Using a semi-anonymous “Nate” account on X (formerly Twitter), McCormack frequently criticized Israel, calling it a “death cult” and accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of leading a cabal of “Judeo-supremacist cronies.” These posts, and others like them, directly undermined the credibility of his official position and risked damaging U.S.-Israel relations.
In response to inquiries, a Joint Staff official confirmed McCormack’s dismissal from the post. The Department of Defense emphasized that his remarks do not reflect official policy and that the matter is now being handled by the U.S. Army.
“Our global alliances and partnerships are vital to our national security,” the official said. “His views are not consistent with the Department’s positions.”
Among the violations cited is McCormack’s failure to adhere to the Pentagon’s social media guidelines, which explicitly bar service members from using DoD titles or symbols in a manner that implies endorsement of personal views. McCormack had disclosed his role, shared photos of his Meritorious Service Medal, and revealed details of internal deliberations and official briefings — a serious breach of protocol.
McCormack’s posts grew increasingly hostile in recent months. In April, he questioned whether the United States was a “proxy” of Israel, describing the alliance as America’s “worst” and claiming it brought nothing but “enmity” from foreign populations. He also accused Israel of deliberately targeting civilians in Gaza, stating its military responses “always disproportionately target Palestinian civilians.”
One particularly alarming post claimed that Israel intended to “cleanse ‘Eretz Israel’ of ethnic Palestinians” — echoing extremist narratives typically found in anti-Israel propaganda.
More troubling was his revelation of internal military warnings. In August, McCormack stated that the U.S. warned Israel it would be “fuxked” if it escalated into conflict with Lebanon. That statement not only disclosed sensitive diplomatic exchanges but used crude language unbecoming of a senior officer.
McCormack’s position gave him access to sensitive information and influence in high-level briefings. His conduct has raised serious questions about vetting procedures and the risks of political radicalization within military ranks. Sharing internal deliberations, travel schedules, and details about briefings with the Israeli Defense Forces on a public platform may carry significant national security implications.