Israel and Oligarchs Hijacked U.S. Government – w/Ex-Head of Counter-Terrorism Joe Kent (Video)

In this 29 June 2026 published video, host Mario Nawfal talks with Jow Kent who publicly stated that Iran posed no imminent threat to the United States and accused Israel of deceiving President Trump by deploying a misinformation campaign. He claimed Israeli influence pressured the U.S. into the conflict. In his open letter to the President, Kent asserted, “It is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby”. He expressed concern about sending the next generation to fight in a war that serves no benefit to the American people. The White House dismissed Kent’s claims, stating the President had compelling evidence that Iran was an imminent threat. 

The assertion that the United States government is controlled or “hijacked” by foreign states or a small group of wealthy individuals reflects widespread, ongoing debates surrounding foreign policy, campaign finance, and political influence. To understand these dynamics, it is helpful to look at how political scientists, legal frameworks, and policy analysts view these influences.

The U.S. and Israel maintain a deep, decades-long strategic partnership based on shared intelligence, military cooperation, and democratic alignments in the Middle East. Organizations like the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) engage heavily in the U.S. political system. This lobbying is legal under U.S. law, similar to lobbying efforts by other foreign allies (such as Taiwan, Saudi Arabia, or South Korea) and domestic interest groups. Critics frequently argue that this lobbying creates an disproportionate influence on U.S. foreign policy, while supporters maintain that the aid and alliance serve vital U.S. national security interests.

The U.S. political system allows substantial financial contributions to political campaigns, accelerated by the 2010 Supreme Court Citizens United ruling. This decision permitted corporations and wealthy individuals to spend unlimited amounts on political advocacy via Super PACs. Prominent political scientists, including studies from Princeton and Northwestern universities, have argued that U.S. government policy aligns much more closely with the preferences of economic elites and business groups than with the average citizen. Despite the massive influence of money, the U.S. government remains a constitutional republic with institutional checks and balances, independent courts, and regular, competitive elections where public voting trends can still overturn elite-backed candidates.

While wealthy individuals and foreign lobbying groups exert tremendous leverage over specific legislation and electoral outcomes, political analysts generally describe this as disproportionate systemic influence rather than a complete “hijack” or total control of the government, as policy outcomes still require institutional consensus, public voter support, and constitutional adherence.

https://youtu.be/JF2SoZqapyI