Sebastian Gorka

Sebastian Lukács Gorka, born on October 22, 1970, in London, United Kingdom, to Hungarian parents, has built a career focused on national security, counterterrorism, and public commentary within the United States. His parents had fled Hungary after the 1956 uprising, settling in the UK where Gorka received his early education at St Benedict’s School in west London, earning a B.A. in philosophy and theology from Heythrop College, University of London. During his university years, he served in the British Territorial Army within the 22 Intelligence Company.

In 1992, Gorka moved to Hungary, working for the Hungarian Ministry of Defence and pursuing a master’s degree in international relations and diplomacy at Corvinus University, which he completed in 1997. He furthered his academic career by obtaining a Ph.D. from Corvinus University in 2007. His expertise in counterterrorism led him to work as an official expert on a parliamentary investigatory committee in Hungary and as an adjunct faculty member for U.S. defense programs. He relocated to the United States in 2008, becoming a naturalized American citizen, and held administrative and lecturing roles at institutions such as the National Defense University and Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy. From 2014 to 2016, he served as an editor for national security affairs at Breitbart News.

Gorka’s career progressed into government service, notably joining the first Trump administration in January 2017 as Deputy Assistant to the President and Strategist, focusing on the Strategic Initiatives Group. After his departure in August 2017, he continued as a media host and commentator, affiliated with Salem Radio Network and NewsMax TV. In November 2024, President-elect Donald Trump announced Gorka’s return to the White House for the second Trump administration, serving as a deputy assistant to the president and senior director for counterterrorism within the National Security Council, a significant milestone reflecting his continued influence in national security matters. He has authored several books, including “Defeating Jihad: The Winnable War” (2016).