Who Is Thomas Fugate? Trump's New Anti-Terror Lead May Be America's Most Underqualified Official

In one of the most bizarre appointments of his presidency, Donald Trump has named 22-year-old Thomas C. Fugate III as the new head of the US Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships (CP3), a division tasked with combatting domestic extremism.

Fugate, who only graduated from university in 2024 and was mowing lawns and working retail at H-E-B a year ago, is now in charge of shaping federal strategies to prevent radicalisation and domestic terror threats.

Though his new position is impressive, concerns about his age and relevant experience—or lack thereof—are raising questions about his readiness for the role. Fugate's delegation follows the similarly controversial appointment of RFK Jr. as Secretary of Health.

Fugate's Meteoric Rise to Republican Stardom

Fugate began his political career soon after graduating from the University of Texas at San Antonio, where he obtained a degree in Politics and Law in 2024. Fugate also interned at the conservative Heritage Foundation—an organisation tied to Project 2025—and worked alongside Texas state representatives Terry Wilson and Steve Allison.

Fugate's LinkedIn page used to state that he assisted in Trump's 2024 campaign as an 'advance team member,' but this page has since been deleted. What is known, however, is that he made key appearances at political events, including the 2024 Republican National Convention. His networking paid off, opening the doors for Fugate to enter the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Fugate Takes the DHS in Record-Breaking Leadership Role

In February, Fugate began working as a 'special assistant' in the DHS' Immigration & Border Security suboffice. Fugate's chance to climb the ranks came when CP3 director Bill Braniff resigned in protest of staffing cuts made by DOGE, which he claimed resulted in the wrongful termination of eight staff members. In his place, Fugate was appointed as the head of the operation, a move that surprised many. His appointment, though shocking, is temporary, according to a senior DHS official.

'Tom Fugate has performed well in his role as a Confidential Assistant in our Immigration & Border Security suboffice,' the official told The Daily Beast. 'Due to his success, he has been temporarily given additional leadership responsibilities in the CP3 office. This is a credit to his work ethic and success on the job.' Only two years out of college, Fugate is expected to lead a national counter-extremism programme—work that requires extensive expertise, which Fugate does not have.

Past Statements And Scrapped Social Media Posts

Although Fugate's career track is impressive for his age, critics argue that his CV is not up for the challenge of being head of CP3. His LinkedIn, which, as previously stated, has been scrapped, showed him as a self-employed 'Landscape Business Owner' in 2020.

Before his Instagram page was made private, it recorded his shift into politics, standing in front of MAGA-clad crowds, planes and memorabilia. His profile, which shows off a picture of Fugate in a cowboy hat, reads, 'Men used to do great things. I believe they still can.' He has also written, 'I prefer dangerous freedom over peaceful slavery,' a quote by slave owner Thomas Jefferson.

A Pattern of Controversial Appointments

The controversy surrounding Fugate's promotion is reminiscent of Trump's polarising nomination, that of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Health Secretary. Multiple experts warned against the move, including his cousin Caroline, who highlighted that Kennedy Jr. was qualified in law, not medicine. The director of the O'Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law issued the following grim statement: 'I can't think of a darker day for public health [...] To say that RFK Jr. is unqualified is a considerable understatement.'

Fugate's lightning-fast rise from retail worker to leading anti-extremism efforts is as astonishing as it is controversial. While his ambition and allegiance to the Republican Party are evident, his lack of experience in national security raises serious questions about merit, readiness, and the growing trend of political appointments driven more by loyalty than expertise.