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Clifford D. May

Clifford D. May is president of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and a columnist for The Washington Times. He can be reached at cliff@fdd.org.

Columns by Clifford D. May

The legacy of Carlos the Jackal

Carlos the Jackal is 76 years old and has been in French prisons for three decades.

August 25, 2026

Kim Jong-un’s European front

In 1240, Mongol warriors led by Genghis Khan's grandson Batu besieged and destroyed Kyiv.

August 18, 2026

U.S. policy against Islamism cannot rest on ignorance

During the Cold War, Americans took communism seriously. We knew it was vital to study the ideology of our enemies.

August 11, 2026

The axis of aggressors vs. America

North Korean troops and munitions beef up Russia's war against Ukraine. In return, Russia provides North Korea with sophisticated technology for its missiles, drones, satellites and submarines.

August 4, 2026

How to break Iran’s terrorist regime

President Trump has stated repeatedly that Iran's rulers must never be permitted to obtain nuclear weapons.

July 28, 2026

What would Biden do with Russia and Iran?

President Biden tried to downplay wars. For example, on Jan. 19, 2022, he suggested -- hopefully, it seemed to me -- that Russia's coming invasion of Ukraine would be only a "minor incursion."

July 14, 2026

The forgotten history of Muslim socialism

Zohran Mamdani, Aber Kawas, Rashida Tlaib, Darializa Avila Chevalier. These are just some of the Democratic politicians who self-identify as both socialists and Muslims.

July 7, 2026

Trump should end Iran’s winning streak at the negotiating table

President Trump has observed that Iran's rulers have "never won a war, but never lost a negotiation."

June 30, 2026

Letter to Melania: Beyond the oil and nukes, you can fight for Iranian women

I am a longtime admirer.

June 23, 2026

Memorandum of understanding not a ‘peace deal’ with Iran

In "Why We Want You to Be Rich," Donald Trump explained that a master negotiator knows "what the other side wants and where they're coming from," and is never afraid to walk away from a bad deal."

June 16, 2026

Muslim Brotherhood backer Qatar indoctrinating your children

For centuries, Qatar was a sparsely populated sheikhdom under the loose influence of successive Islamic empires, caliphates and regional Arab rulers.

June 9, 2026

Some helpful notes on Iran’s ‘Islamic revolutionaries’

Dear President Trump, I am sure you were disappointed to learn Monday that Iran's rulers have decided they are not interested in negotiating an extension of the ceasefire you granted on April 8.

June 2, 2026

Farewell Fidelismo? Trump has a chance to liberate the Cubans - and others

President Trump fancies himself a peacemaker, and the record supports him.

May 26, 2026

Trump should distrust and verify Xi after Beijing summit

How successful was the summit last week in Beijing? President Trump said it was a "great success." Xi Jinping, China's supreme ruler, merely called the meeting "constructive."

May 19, 2026

Mr. President, here’s your next Iran speech

My fellow Americans, I don't often sit down here in the Oval Office behind the Resolute Desk to give speeches. But I'm making an exception today because I want you to understand exactly what I'm thinking and what I plan to do about the America haters in Tehran.

May 12, 2026