By Nathan Guttman July 24, 2017

At 31, Ezra Cohen-Watnick is one of the most powerful people in the National Security Council.

Just how powerful is he?

According to a wide ranging profile published in the Atlantic, Cohen-Watnick’s standing is so strong that an attempt by national security adviser H. R. McMaster to fire the young analyst was blocked by President Trump’s top advisers.

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

Furthermore, Cohen-Watnick emerges as one of the few people in Washington who enjoy the backing of both Steve Bannon and Jared Kushner, the two rivaling forces surrounding Trump. Kushner and Bannon both stood up together to McMaster when he sought to dismiss Cohen-Watnick and managed to derail his plan. Kushner even provided the Atlantic with a a rare on-record quote praising Cohen-Watnick, stating that “Ezra is deeply thoughtful, hard working, and committed to serving the president.”

According to the article, one of the forces shaping Cohen-Watnick’s worldview was conservative thinker and activist David Horowitz. As a student at the University of Pennsylvania, Cohen-Watnick was involved in the Terrorism Awareness Week, inspired by Horowitz.

Cohen-Watnick gained national attention after he reportedly provided intelligence information to Devin Nunes, the Republican chair of the House Intelligence Committee.

Contact Nathan Guttman at [email protected] or on Twitter @nathanguttman

A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

With your support, we’ll be ready for whatever 2025 brings.

$36 $500

$120 $180 Other amount