Texas Sen. Cornyn Praised Islamic Relief USA After State Department Cut Ties to Parent Group

Texas Sen. John Cornyn repeatedly praised Islamic Relief USA, the American arm of Islamic Relief Worldwide, after the State Department ended ties with the parent group in 2021 over concerns including praise of terrorists and antisemitism.

A Fox News Digital review found two video messages and two letters in which Cornyn commended the group or endorsed its operations. "Thanks to my friends at Islamic Relief USA for all their humanitarian work," Cornyn said in a May 2021 video address. A year later, he wrote a letter to recognize and thank the organization for its humanitarian efforts across Texas and the nation. In a 2023 letter, Cornyn called Islamic Relief USA "friends" and praised its dedication to serving vulnerable neighbors.

Cornyn faces a heated Senate primary runoff against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Paxton has questioned Cornyn's conservative credentials, while Cornyn has pointed to Paxton's corruption scandals. Both have emphasized opposition to radical Islam in their campaigns.

In late 2025, Islamic Relief USA cut ties with Islamic Relief Worldwide, saying the parent's conduct damaged its reputation.

Leaders of both groups have historical ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamist movement, and have shown hostility toward Jews, based on social media posts and photos from the Middle East Forum. Some Muslim Brotherhood branches are U.S.-designated terrorist organizations.

"As we witness a rise in anti-Semitism in every corner of the globe, it is incumbent on all people of good conscience to stand strong and exhibit zero tolerance for the blatant and horrifying anti-Semitism and glorification of violence exhibited at the most senior levels of IRW," the State Department said in December 2020. It urged governments to review ties with the group. Multiple governments and banks have cut relations over terror financing fears.

Khaled Lamada, former Islamic Relief USA chairman who served on its board until October 2022, posted praise in 2014 for the "Mujahidin of Egypt" causing Jews defeats through jihad, according to the Middle East Forum. That year, he reposted messages lauding Hamas for a huge defeat against the Zionist entity. Egyptian media and George Washington University's Program on Extremism identify him as a Muslim Brotherhood affiliate.

Other Republicans engaged with Islamic Relief USA after the State Department's statement. Sens. Ted Cruz and Chuck Grassley sent 2022 holiday greetings. Staff for Sens. Marco Rubio and Rick Scott met group members in March 2022 on public health legislation, per a social media post. Islamic Relief USA representatives attended a 2025 meeting with Trump administration officials on foreign aid, according to the National Catholic Reporter.

"More than four years ago, members of our healthcare team took a Zoom meeting with constituents who said they had questions about domestic healthcare policy," a Scott spokesman said. "Neither those staffers nor Senator Scott knew that representatives from IRUSA would be joining the conference call. The Senator’s record on combating antisemitism and Islamist threats to American society more than speaks for itself."

Fox News Digital sought comment from Cruz, Grassley and Rubio offices Friday. Cornyn's office and Islamic Relief USA did not respond.

Islamic Relief Worldwide denies terror links. "Islamic Relief operates to the highest standards of governance, compliance and oversight across all our work," a spokesperson said. "We are a purely humanitarian organization and we stand firmly against all forms of extremism, including antisemitism. Our staff deliver aid in some of the world's most dangerous places and some of our own colleagues have lost their lives to acts of terror. We have been victims of terrorism, not supporters of it." The group said in a 2017 report that no evidence substantiated allegations against it.

HSBC ended ties in 2016 over terror financing concerns; UBS did so in 2012. Israel, the United Arab Emirates, the Netherlands and Germany have acted against the group for alleged Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas ties.

With Lamada leading, Islamic Relief USA was the parent's top funder, sending tens of millions of dollars yearly in 2021 and 2022, per disclosures.

The full Islamic Relief Worldwide board resigned in August 2020 after Times of London reports on antisemitism among leaders. One called Jews "grandchildren of monkeys and pigs"; others praised Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood.

In June 2020, Cornyn filmed a Ramadan greeting video for Islamic Relief USA.

In October 2025, Islamic Relief USA sought to end the relationship, citing IRW conduct allegations harming its reputation, per a March legal complaint. "IRW has not only refused to cooperate in taking steps to avoid such existential risks but took further steps to increase those risks to IRUSA," the complaint said.

Tax records show Islamic Relief USA funded the East Plano Islamic Center, the Texas mosque behind EPIC City, a planned Islamic community that has sparked political controversy. Cornyn and Paxton have acted to block its construction.