National Strategy

for

Counterterrorism

of the United States of America

OCTOBER 2018

THE WHITE HOUSE

WASHINGTON, DC

My fellow Americans:

I made a solemn promise to the American people to spare no effort to preserve the 

safety and security of the United States. This National Strategy for Counterterrorism 

helps keep that promise. We must defeat the terrorists who threaten America’s safety, 

prevent future attacks, and protect our national interests. This requires a new approach 

to combatting and preventing terrorism. 

In fulfilling my promise to renew America’s strength and security, I have revitalized our 

military, and we are now, through action and leadership, prevailing against the terrorists 

aiming to harm us and our interests. We are using all available tools at our disposal to 

combat terrorist groups, starve them of support, and prevent them from recruiting new 

followers. We are also disrupting terrorist threats within our own borders, from 

individuals mobilized to violence by a range of domestic and foreign terrorist ideologies 

and who threaten our safety. 

This has not been easy. My Administration inherited a world in which the terrorist 

threat had become more complex and widespread than ever before. We, the people of 

the United States, face global terrorist networks and their affiliates. We face terrorist 

organizations backed by state sponsors. And we face homegrown threats inspired by 

terrorist propaganda.

The National Strategy for Counterterrorism recognizes the full range of terrorist threats 

that the United States confronts within and beyond our borders, and emphasizes the 

use of all elements of national power to combat terrorism and terrorist ideologies. It 

enhances our emphasis on targeting terrorist networks that threaten the United States 

and our allies and on disrupting and denying their ability to mobilize, finance, travel, 

communicate, and inspire new followers. We will deny terrorists the freedom to travel 

and communicate across international borders, and we will take action to limit their 

ability to recruit and radicalize online. We will combat the violent, extreme, and twisted 

ideologies that purport to justify the murder of innocent victims. We will also ensure 

that America’s critical infrastructure is protected, in order to deter and prevent attacks, 

and is resilient so that we can quickly recover should it come under attack.
This National Strategy for Counterterrorism sets forth a new approach. We will protect our 

homeland, our interests overseas, and our allies and partners. We will defeat radical 

Islamist terrorists such as ISIS and al-Qa'ida, expand our agile counterterrorism toolkit to 

prevent future terrorist threats, deter emerging threats, roll back Iran's global terrorist 

network, and ensure our country's continued safety. Now, and in the future, we will secure 

our Nation and prevail against terrorism. 

Sincerely, 

President Donald J. Trump 

The White House 

October 2018 
i

Since September 11, 2001, we have learned that 

winning the war on terrorism requires our country 

to aggressively pursue terrorists. We have also 

learned, however, that we must do more than 

merely kill or capture terrorists. We must dismantle 

terrorists' networks and sever the sources of strength 

and support that sustain them, that allow them to 

regenerate, and that permit them to adapt. To secure 

a lasting victory, we must also maintain sufficient 

pressure on terrorist organizations to prevent them 

from reemerging.

This Administration has already taken significant 

steps to address the terrorist threat. Under the 

leadership of President Donald J. Trump, the United 

States has accelerated efforts to defeat those 

terrorists who pose a threat to the United States. For 

instance, working with coalition partners, we have 

exeCutive Summary

We Remain a Nation at War

Today's terrorist landscape is more fluid and complex than ever. For this reason, 

counterterrorism remains a top priority for this Administration. Our principal terrorist 

enemies are radical Islamist terrorist groups that seek to conduct attacks globally, 

violate our borders, and radicalize and recruit potential extremists within the United 

States and abroad. We continue to face threats from Iran, the most prominent 

state sponsor of terrorism, through its global network of operatives and its ongoing 

support to an array of terrorist groups. Terrorists motivated by other forms of 

extremism also use violence to threaten the homeland and challenge United 

States interests. These terrorist threats are different in many ways, but they all seek 

to use violence to undermine the United States and disrupt the American way of 

life. 

• This strategy uses all available instruments of United States power to counter terrorism. We will 

defeat our enemies with the full force of America’s strengths. 

• This strategy will protect the United States against all terrorists that threaten our country. We will 

not focus on a single organization but will counter all terrorists with the ability and the intent to 

harm the United States, our citizens, and our interests abroad. 

• This strategy places America First and emphasizes protection of the homeland—building strong 

borders, strengthening security at all ports of entry into the United States, protecting its critical 

infrastructure, and facilitating preparedness.

• This strategy recognizes, however, that America First does not mean America alone. We will 

broaden our range of partners to combat radical Islamist terrorism, Iran-sponsored terrorism, 

and other forms of violent extremism; encourage capable partners to play a larger role in 

counterterrorism efforts; and assist other partners so that they can eventually address terrorist 

threats independently.
NAT I O NAL STRATEGY FOR COUNTERTERROR I S M

ii

liberated nearly all of the territory once controlled by 

the self-declared Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham 

(ISIS) in Iraq and Syria. While we have made much 

progress, additional challenges remain. We must 

continually work to stay ahead of an adaptive enemy. 

This means that we must undertake additional efforts 

to prevent terrorists from acquiring or using weapons 

of mass destruction (WMD) and other advanced 

attack capabilities. We must prevent terrorists from 

exploiting new technologies in today’s dynamic 

information environment, and we must counter 

terrorists’ ability to recruit and radicalize online and 

through other means. 

Likewise, experience has taught us that preparedness 

and prevention must be integral parts of our counterterrorism strategy. We must protect the homeland 

against the terrorist threat by building strong borders, 

securing United States infrastructure, and enhancing 

the preparedness of the American people.

Experience has also highlighted the importance of 

strong partnerships in sustaining our counterterrorism 

efforts. Whenever possible, the United States must 

develop more efficient approaches to achieve our 

security objectives, relying on our allies to degrade 

and maintain persistent pressure against terrorists. 

This means collaborating so that foreign governments 

take the lead wherever possible, and working with 

others so that they can assume responsibility in 

the fight against terrorists. Domestically, we must 

empower our frontline defenders—our state and 

local law enforcement professionals—as well as many 

other government, civil society, and private sector 

partners to prevent and counter terrorism in the 

United States.

Building on the National Security Strategy and the 

Administration's progress to date, the National 

Strategy for Counterterrorism outlines how the United 

States will combat terrorism at home and abroad 

and keep America safe. Acting in accordance with 

this strategy, we will defeat our enemies, just as we 

have defeated the purveyors of oppression, fascism, 

and totalitarianism in previous wars. We will always 

remember September 11, 2001, and the sacrifices 

made by so many brave patriots in defense of our 

country against the evil scourge of terrorism. With 

that same spirit of service and self-sacrifice, we will 

safeguard the homeland, protect our way of life, and 

eliminate our enemy’s ability to threaten our country. 

We are a nation at war—and it is a war that the United 

States will win.
iii

Table of Contents

Introduction ...................................................................................1

National Strategy for Counterterrorism at a Glance................................ 5

The Terrorist Adversary.................................................................... 7

Prioritization and Resourcing ............................................................ 11

Pursue Terrorist Threats to Their Source ............................................. 13

Isolate Terrorists from Financial, Material, and Logistical

Sources of Support.......................................................................... 15

Modernize and Integrate a Broader Set of United States Tools and

Authorities to Counter Terrorism and Protect the Homeland..................... 17

Protect United States Infrastructure and Enhance Preparedness................ 19

Counter Terrorist Radicalization and Recruitment.................................. 21

Strengthen the Counterterrorism Abilities of International Partners................... 23

Conclusion....................................................................................25

1

Terrorists seek to undermine American ideals and 

the United States Government by using violence and 

propaganda to advance their depraved goals. After 

seventeen years of armed conflict and significant 

costs in American blood and treasure, our efforts to 

prevent and counter terrorism have met with mixed 

success. While we have succeeded in disrupting 

large-scale attacks in the homeland since 2001, we 

have not sufficiently mitigated the overall threat that 

terrorists pose. 

Today’s terrorist threats have changed, and terrorist 

groups are now more geographically dispersed 

and their tactics more diversified. To address this 

evolving terrorist threat across the globe and within 

the homeland, our approach to counterterrorism 

must evolve. As President Donald J. Trump has 

stated, “America is committed to adjusting our 

strategies to meet evolving threats and new facts. 

We will discard those strategies that have not 

worked—and will apply new approaches informed by 

experience and judgment.”

We must confront terrorists with the combined 

power of America’s strengths—our strong military, 

our law enforcement and intelligence communities, 

our civilian government institutions, our vibrant private sector, our civil society, our international partnerships, and the firm resolve of the American people. 

Harnessing our full potential, the spirit of innovation 

that has been key to our national greatness, and our 

tradition of working together toward our common 

goals, we will prevail and prevent terrorism from disrupting the American way of life. 

Introduction

The Path to Victory

The United States occupies a special role among nations as a vanguard of freedom, 

democracy, and constitutional governance. These luminous ideals must be 

assiduously defended in a world of increasing challenges and dangers from the forces 

that threaten America’s people, our vital interests, and the security and prosperity of 

our allies and partners.

Through the National Strategy for Counterterrorism, we will achieve the following end states to 

safeguard our homeland, way of life, and shared interests:

• The terrorist threat to the United States is eliminated;

• Our borders and all ports of entry into the United States are secure against terrorist threats;

• Terrorism, radical Islamist ideologies, and other violent extremist ideologies do not

undermine the American way of life; and

• Foreign partners address terrorist threats so that these threats do not jeopardize the

collective interests of the United States and our partners.
NAT I O NAL STRATEGY FOR COUNTERTERROR I S M

2

To achieve these aims, this strategy adopts an 

America First approach to counterterrorism—one 

that is guided by United States interests; shaped by 

realistic assessments of both our challenges and our 

capabilities; and attuned to the important roles of our 

allies and partners, both foreign and domestic, in our 

shared counterterrorism efforts. 

This strategy differs from previous strategies in that 

it adopts a more agile and expansive approach that 

addresses the full spectrum of terrorist threats to the 

United States, including our enemies overseas and the 

people they seek to influence and mobilize to violence 

in the United States. We will also confront the threat of 

terrorists in the United States who seek to further their 

political or social aims through 

unlawful acts of violence without 

foreign direction or inspiration. In this 

pursuit, we will continue to protect 

American freedoms, and we will be 

unwavering in our commitment to 

defeat all those who turn to violence 

in an attempt to destroy, disrupt, or 

impair our society. 

Importantly, this America First 

approach will harness the full span 

of United States power and use 

every available tool to combat 

terrorism at home, abroad, and in 

cyberspace. This includes military 

and intelligence op er at ions 

overseas, law enforcement actions 

at home and abroad, diplomatic engagement, and 

the use of financial tools. We will modernize and 

integrate existing counterterrorism tools so we can 

secure our borders through, among other things, 

more rigorous scrutiny of entry applications. We 

will also deploy new technologies precisely where 

they are needed and protect critical infrastructure 

in the United States from terrorist attacks. Finally, 

we will incorporate two of the most potent tools in 

the information environment: cyber operations and 

strategic communications. These tools are an integral 

part of our counterterrorism activities, and we will 

continue to incorporate them when appropriate to 

maximize their effects.

In addition, this strategy prioritizes a broader range of 

non-military capabilities, such as our ability to prevent 

and intervene in terrorist recruitment, minimize the 

appeal of terrorist propaganda online, and build societal resilience to terrorism. This includes leveraging 

the skills and resources of civil society and non-traditional partners to diminish terrorists’ efforts to radicalize and recruit people in the United States.

To defeat radical Islamist terrorism, we must also 

speak out forcefully against a 

hateful ideology that provides 

the breeding ground for violence 

and terrorism. We will expose the 

destructive, totalitarian nature 

of the ideology that fuels violent 

radical Islamist movements, such 

as ISIS and al-Qa'ida. We will reveal 

the way violent radical Islamist 

terrorists have killed, exploited, 

and betrayed Muslim communities, 

including women and children. 

Through our efforts, we will thwart 

terrorists' ability to exploit the 

Internet for directing, enabling, or 

inspiring attacks.

We will not do this alone. This 

strategy recognizes that effective counterterrorism 

requires a wide range of public and private sector 

par tners as well as foreign par tnerships. A s 

President Trump stated, “We must seek partners, 

not perfection—and to make allies of all who share 

our goals.” Accordingly, from civil society and state, 

local, tribal, and territorial governments to private 

sector partners and foreign allies, the full range of our 

partnerships must be enhanced to effectively prevent 

and counter terrorist activity, particularly as tactics 

“But above all, we must 

be united in pursuing 

the one goal that 

transcends every other 

consideration. That 

goal is to meet history’s 

great test—to conquer 

extremism and vanquish 

the forces of terrorism.”

PRESIDENT

DONALD J. TRUMP
3

I NTRODUCT I O N

and actors can change quickly. We will expect more 

of our partners in this fight, but they will never doubt 

our resolute commitment to defending our shared 

interests. 

All the while, we will be pragmatic in our approach 

and mindful of the need to use our resources carefully. This strategy, therefore, prioritizes United States 

counterterrorism efforts against those terrorists with 

the ability and intent to harm the United States and 

our vital national interests and limits United States 

efforts overseas to those that directly bolster our 

national security. Likewise, to maximize the effectiveness of our actions, we will continue to integrate United States Government counterterrorism 

efforts. Finally, we will continually review the efficacy 

of our approach through independent assessments 

(informed by research, intelligence, and analysis) 

to ensure that we are making measurable progress 

toward our strategic objectives. By rigorously monitoring our progress and measuring the impact of 

our activities, we can make informed adjustments 

when needed to advance our counterterrorism 

efforts.

Guided by this strategy, rooted in American principles, 

and harnessing our inherent strengths as a nation, we 

will eliminate terrorists’ ability to threaten America, 

our interests, and our engagement in the world. The 

United States—forever the sentinel of democracy and 

freedom—will prevail over terrorism and preserve 

the American way of life. Through our triumph, we 

will demonstrate that American strength remains a 

lasting force for good in the world.

Through this new approach, the United States will integrate our instruments of national power 

to achieve our end states through the following strategic objectives:

The capacity of terrorists to conduct attacks in the homeland and against vital United 

States interests overseas is sharply diminished;

The sources of strength and support upon which terrorists rely are severed;

Terrorists’ ability to radicalize, recruit, and mobilize to violence in the homeland is 

diminished; 

Americans are prepared and protected from terrorist attacks in the homeland, 

including through more exacting border security and law enforcement actions; 

Terrorists are unable to acquire or use WMDs, including chemical, biological, 

radiological, and nuclear weapons, and other advanced weaponry; and

Public sector partners, private sector partners, and foreign partners take a greater 

role in preventing and countering terrorism. 

NAT I O NAL STRATEGY FOR COUNTERTERROR I S M

5

National Strategy for Counterterrorism at a Glance

The strategic objectives are critical to reaching the desired end states, and the lines of effort are the means 

for achieving them.

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES

The capacity of terrorists to conduct 

attacks in the homeland and 

against vital United States interests 

overseas is sharply diminished

Americans are prepared and protected from 

terrorist attacks in the homeland, including 

through more exacting border security and law 

enforcement actions

The sources of strength and support 

upon which terrorists rely are 

severed

Terrorists are unable to acquire or use Weapons 

of Mass Destruction (WMD), including chemical, 

biological, radiological, and nuclear weapons, 

and other advanced weaponry

Terrorists’ ability to radicalize, 

recruit, and mobilize to violence in 

the homeland is diminished

Public sector partners, private sector partners, 

and foreign partners take a greater role in 

preventing and countering terrorism

 END STATES

The terrorist threat to the United States is 

eliminated

Our borders and all ports of entry into the United 

States are secure against terrorist threats

Terrorism, radical Islamist ideologies, and other 

violent extremist ideologies do not undermine 

the American way of life

Foreign partners address terrorist threats so that 

these threats do not jeopardize the collective 

interests of the United States and our partners.

 LINES OF EFFORT

Pursue terrorist threats to their source

Isolate terrorists from financial, material, and 

logistical sources of support

Modernize and integrate a broader set of United 

States tools and authorities to counter terrorism 

and protect the homeland

Protect United States infrastructure and enhance 

preparedness

Counter terrorist radicalization and recruitment

Strengthen the counterterrorism abilities of 

international partners

7

Radical Islamist terrorists remain the primary transnational terrorist threat to the United States and 

it s vital national interest s. 

Prominent terrorist organizations, particularly ISIS and 

al- Qa'ida, have repeate dly 

demonstrated the intent and 

capability to attack the homeland and United States interests and continue to plot new 

attacks and inspire susceptible 

people to commit acts of violence inside the United States.1

These groups stoke and exploit 

weak governance, conflict, instability, and longstanding political and religious grievances to 

pursue their goal of eliminating 

Western influence in majority 

Muslim countries and remaking 

Islamic society. 

Radical Islamist terrorist groups have developed 

and used methods that have challenged United 

States counterterrorism efforts, including establishing state-like governing institutions within their 

safe havens, deploying sophisticated explosive 

devices to defeat aviation security measures, and 

using high-quality media products to recruit extremists in the West. Future radical 

Islamist terrorists and other terrorists will continually adapt 

these and other tactics to their 

circumstances and the technological advances of the age. It is, 

therefore, critical that the United 

States counterterrorism posture be agile enough to adapt as 

well. 

Radical Islamist terrorists have 

a violent extremist ideolog y 

that serves to create a common identity and sense of purpose for those susceptible to its 

core message. This vile ideology is used to indoctrinate new 

recruits to accept terrorist groups' goals and directives without question, and also allows these groups 

to maintain cohesion, ensure conformity, and justify the use of violence to meet the ideology's goals. 

It avails terrorists of a worldview that helps unify 

their efforts by fomenting conflict and attempts to 

legitimize terrorism by elevating the social status of 

The Terrorist Adversary

The United States and our allies face an increasingly complex terrorist landscape, 

populated by a diverse array of actors employing new technologies and tactics 

to advance their agendas. The terrorist threat to the United States is growing 

more dynamic and diffuse as an increasing number of groups, networks, and 

individuals exploit global trends, including the emergence of more secure modes of 

communications, the expansion of social and mass media, and persistent instability 

across several regions. 

“ISIS is on a campaign 

of genocide, committing 

atrocities across the world. 

Radical Islamic terrorists 

are determined to strike our 

homeland, as they did on 

9/11, as they did from Boston 

to Orlando to San Bernardino 

and all across Europe.”

PRESIDENT

DONALD J. TRUMP

1

 The intelligence and law enforcement communities refer to an individual in the United States radicalized and mobilized to violence by radical Islamist 

terrorist ideologies as a homegrown violent extremist (HVE).
NAT I O NAL STRATEGY FOR COUNTERTERROR I S M

8

group members and absolving individuals from culpability for their participation in violence. Because 

of this, we must ensure that our efforts will undermine the appeal of this ideology of hate. Its resilience, power, and appeal make it a grave danger 

to not just our own nation’s security but also that 

of our allies across the globe. Without the appeal 

of this ideology, radical Islamist terrorism has no 

foundation. 

ISIS remains the foremost radical Islamist terrorist 

group and the primar y transnational terrorist 

threat to the United States, despite ongoing United 

States and coalition civilian and military efforts 

that have diminished the group's footprint in Iraq 

and Syria, killed thousands of its members, and 

curtailed its global expansion. ISIS retains the 

financial and material resources and expertise to 

launch external attacks—including against United 

States interests—and its senior leaders continue 

to call for attacks against the United States. The 

group's global reach remains robust, with eight 

official branches and more than two dozen networks 

regularly conducting terrorist and insurgent 

operations across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the 

Middle East. Despite many setbacks, ISIS maintains 

a sophisticated and durable media and online 

presence that allows it to encourage and enable 

sympathizers worldwide to conduct dozens of 

attacks within target countries, including the United 

States. The increase in attacks by persons mobilized 

to violence in the United States underscores the 

ability of ISIS to inspire terrorist attacks.

ISIS has been innovative and determined in 

its pursuit of attacks in the West. The group 

has exploited weaknesses in European border 

security to great effect by capitalizing on the 

migrant crisis to seed attack operatives into the 

region. For instance, two of the perpetrators of 

the 2015 ISIS attacks in Paris, France, infiltrated 

the country by posing as migrants. Further, ISIS 

is continuing its efforts to circumvent European 

efforts to shore up border security by identifying 

new routes. Europe's struggle to screen the people 

crossing its borders highlights the importance 

of ensuring strong United States borders so that 

terrorists cannot enter the United States. 

In addition, the savagery of ISIS has caused a massive movement of millions of innocent refugees. 

Our battlefield successes, meanwhile, have given 

way to the flight of thousands of terrorists seeking to evade justice. As defeated fighters and their 

families disperse, the United States and our partners must remain vigilant to ensure that terrorists cannot evade our security measures to 

threaten our people and way of life.

Meanwhile, al-Qa'ida's global network remains 

resilient and poses an enduring threat to the 

homeland and United States interests around the 

world. Consistent United States-led counterterrorism 

pressure has removed many of its senior leaders 

and reduced the group’s ability to operate in South 

Asia, but its affiliates continue to plan and carry 

out terrorist attacks against the United States and 

our allies, as well as raise funds from individual 

supporters through the international financial 

system. Affiliate resources are primarily focused on 

local and regional conflicts, but key operatives and 

elements within the network continue to seek out 

new opportunities to strike the homeland and United 

States interests and to inspire attacks inside the 

United States. Veteran al-Qa‘ida leaders are working 

to consolidate and expand the group’s presence 

in several regions, including in Syria, from which it 

aspires to launch new attacks against the United 

States and our allies.

Both ISIS and al-Qa'ida have inspired people

susceptible to their malign influence to conduct 

terrorist attacks inside the United States. This 

will probably remain the most frequent form of 

radical Islamist terrorism in the United States for 

the next several years. Such attacks, motivated 

by a wide range of factors, will continue to be 

conducted primarily through the use of simple 
9

THE TERROR I ST ADVERSARY

tactics against predominantly soft targets. ISIS 

is likely to remain the main inspiration for such 

attacks, particularly if the group can retain its 

prominence and use social and mainstream media 

coverage to promote its violent message.

In addition to ISIS and al-Qa'ida, dozens of other radical Islamist terrorist groups are working to advance 

more locally focused insurgent or terrorist campaigns, while still posing a threat to United States persons and interests overseas. These groups, including 

Boko Haram, Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan, and Lashkar-e 

Tayyiba, employ a range of political and terrorist tactics to undermine local governments and conduct 

attacks. These organizations 

will probably prioritize regional 

goals over attacks against the 

homeland or United States 

interests because of resource 

constraints or political considerations. However, many of 

these groups are hostile to the 

United States, maintain networks of sympathizers around 

the world, and retain ties to ISIS 

or al-Qa'ida, underscoring their 

potential threat to United States 

interests.

Iran remains the most prominent state sponsor of terrorism, supporting militant and 

terrorist groups across the Middle East and cultivating a network of operatives that pose a threat in 

the United States and globally. These groups, most 

notably Lebanese Hizballah (Hizballah), use terrorism and other asymmetric means in partnership 

with Iran to expand their influence in Iraq, Lebanon, 

the Palestinian territories, Syria, and Yemen and 

to destabilize their rivals. Hizballah fields powerful military and intelligence elements, possesses 

large stocks of sophisticated arms, and maintains 

extensive networks of operatives and sympathizers overseas, including individuals in the homeland. 

Through the Islamic Revolutionary Guard CorpsQods Force (IRGC-QF), Iran's primary terrorist support arm, the Government of Iran provides financial and material support, training, and guidance 

to Hizballah and other Shia militant groups operating in Bahrain, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen. It also supports HAMAS and other Palestinian terrorist groups. 

With operatives deployed around the world, the 

IRGC-QF has the capability to target United States 

interests and possibly the homeland.

There is also a broad range of revolutionary, nationalist, and separatist movements overseas whose use 

of violence and intent to destabilize societies often 

puts American lives at risk. For 

example, the Nordic Resistance 

Movement is a prominent transnational, self-described nationalist-socialist organization with 

anti-Western views that has conducted violent attacks against 

Muslims, left-wing groups, and 

others. The group has demonstrated against United States 

Government actions it perceives 

are supportive of Israel and has 

the potential to extend its targeting to United States interests. Similarly, the neo-Nazi 

National Action Group, a terrorist organization that was banned 

by the United Kingdom in 2016 

for its promotion of violence against politicians and 

minorities, operates mainly in the United Kingdom 

but has engaged with like-minded groups in the 

United States, Estonia, France, Germany, Latvia, and 

Poland—expanding the potential influence of its violent ideology. Likewise, Babbar Khalsa International 

seeks, through violent means, to establish its own 

independent state in India and is responsible for significant terrorist attacks in India and elsewhere that 

have claimed the lives of innocent civilians. Such 

groups may avoid or deprioritize targeting United 

States interests for now to avoid detracting from 

“Iran and its proxies 

have bombed American 

embassies and military 

installations, murdered 

hundreds of American 

service members, and 

kidnapped, imprisoned, 

and tortured American 

citizens.”

PRESIDENT

DONALD J. TRUMP
NAT I O NAL STRATEGY FOR COUNTERTERROR I S M

10

their core goals but frequently conduct assassinations and bombings against major economic, political, and social targets, heightening the risk to United 

States personnel and interests overseas.

Lastly, the United States has long faced a persistent 

security threat from domestic terrorists who are 

not motivated by a radical Islamist ideology but are 

instead motivated by other forms of violent extremism, such as racially motivated extremism, animal 

rights extremism, environmental extremism, sovereign citizen extremism, and militia extremism. Such 

extremist groups attempt to advance their agendas 

through acts of force or violence. Notably, domestic terrorism in the United States is on the rise, with 

an increasing number of fatalities and violent nonlethal acts committed by domestic terrorists against 

people and property in the United States. The economic harm caused by domestic terrorists has 

also increased sharply as domestic terrorists have 

continued to destroy property, disrupt business, 

and perpetrate financial crimes that are designed 

to damage certain sectors of the United States 

economy.
11

Prioritization and Resourcing

To combat what has become a more complex and 

geographically dispersed terrorist threat, the United 

States will prioritize integrated actions and resources 

against those terrorists that have both the intent and 

capability to attack the United 

States and our interests abroad. 

As noted, radical Islamist terrorists present the most dangerous transnational terrorist threat 

to the United States and our vital 

national interests as defined in the 

National Security Strategy. At the 

same time, the United States also 

faces threats from Iran-backed 

terrorist groups and other transnational terrorist organizations. In the homeland, we 

will continue to confront the rising threat of attacks 

committed by persons inspired and mobilized to violence by both radical Islamist ideologies and domestic terrorist ideologies. 

Terrorists and the threats they pose, however, are not 

monolithic. The dangers posed by different terrorists 

vary by group and by region. The National Strategy 

for Counterterrorism, therefore, will guide the tools 

and approaches used for counterterrorism efforts 

and will generally defer to regional, functional, and 

group-specific strategies to prioritize terrorist groups 

based upon the threat they pose to our homeland 

and vital national interests.

In addition, counterterrorism efforts must be properly 

balanced across all instruments of national power and 

include the efforts of traditional and non-traditional 

partners. While the United States must retain the ability to strike at terrorism around the 

globe, non-military tools—such 

as law enforcement, intelligence, 

diplomacy, financial measures, 

stabilization, development, prevention, and inter vention and 

reintegration programs—are also 

required to prevent and counter 

terrorism. We must, therefore, 

increase our focus on developing 

domestic and foreign partners’ 

non-military counterterrorism capabilities so they 

can act independently against terrorists.

Finally, as we embark on this new approach, we must 

rigorously monitor and assess our effectiveness and 

adjust operations accordingly. Annual independent 

strategic assessments informed by research, intelligence, and analysis will ensure that we are making 

measurable progress toward our strategic objectives. 

These assessments will identify the impediments to 

our effectiveness and recommend adjustments to 

the strategy to outpace dynamic adversaries. They 

will also ensure that our progress is sustainable as we 

continue to address the full range of contemporary 

national security challenges. 

As President Trump has noted, “America is a sovereign nation and our first priority 

is always the safety and security of our citizens.” The United States must, therefore, 

relentlessly focus on countering terrorism that jeopardizes American citizens 

and interests. We will not dilute our counterterrorism efforts by attempting to be 

everywhere all the time, trying to eradicate all threats. We can and will, however, 

optimize and focus our resources to effectively prevent and counter those terrorists 

who pose a direct threat to the United States homeland and vital national interests.

“When it comes to 

terrorism, we will do 

whatever is necessary 

to protect our nation.” 

PRESIDENT

DONALD J. TRUMP

13

In the past, when the United States and our partners 

have disrupted terrorist plots, some terrorists 

remained in hiding, only to reemerge when pressure 

subsided. Therefore, the United States must do 

more than disrupt individual plots—we must pursue 

the entirety of the network involved in terrorist 

plotting to prevent the remaining terrorists from 

reviving their operations.

At home, law enforcement at all levels of government will continue to pursue known or suspected 

terrorists, integrating all sources of information 

available. Overseas, we will disrupt terrorist networks that pose a credible threat to United States 

interests by conducting military, intelligence, and 

law enforcement operations and employing financial measures against discrete targets—working by, 

with, and through partners where possible. We will 

also enhance intelligence-sharing arrangements, 

increasing the timeliness and quality of exchange 

to identify the entire network involved in terrorist 

activity and maintain pressure on key terrorists and 

terrorist organizations. 

Priority Actions

TARGET KEY TERRORISTS AND TERRORIST GROUPS: 

Using both military and non-military capabilities, 

we will target the terrorists and terrorist groups 

who pose the greatest threat to American citizens 

and interests. This will include terrorist leaders, 

operational planners, and individuals deploying 

their expertise in areas such as WMD, explosives, 

cyber operations, and propaganda. We will apply 

persistent pressure through sustained United States 

and partner intelligence, law enforcement, economic 

and financial measures, and military action to 

disrupt, degrade, and prevent the reconstitution of 

terrorist networks. 

ENHANCE REACH INTO DENIED AREAS OVERSEAS: Where 

we cannot establish a physical presence to protect 

Pursue Terrorist Threats

to Their Source

 

Terrorists are difficult to disrupt because they are highly adaptive and use any 

means to achieve their ends. Within the United States, they exploit our open and free 

society to target civilians. They take advantage of technology, such as the Internet 

and encrypted communications, to promote their malicious goals and spread their 

violent ideologies. Overseas, they thrive in countries with weak governments and 

where disenfranchised populations are vulnerable to terrorists' destructive and 

misinformed narratives, and they are adaptive in the face of pressure from countries 

with strong governments. Some are sheltered and supported by foreign governments 

or even do their bidding.
NAT I O NAL STRATEGY FOR COUNTERTERROR I S M

14

our interests directly, we will develop innovative 

means and work with partners to expand our 

capability to identify and mitigate emerging threats 

before they can strike the United States and our 

national interests. 

EFFECTIVELY USE L AW OF ARMED CONFLICT (LOAC) 

DETENTION AS A COUNTERTERRORISM TOOL: The detention of enemies under the LOAC permits the United 

States to humanely remove dangerous terrorists 

from the battlefield and enhances our ability to collect intelligence from captured terrorists. This capability, in certain circumstances, also permits detention of terrorists pending their transfer to the United 

States for criminal prosecution. We will, therefore, retain LOAC detention as a counterterrorism 

tool, preserve our ability to detain terrorists at the 

detention facilities at United States Naval Station 

Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and explore ways to better 

integrate and maximize the utility of this capability 

where lawful and appropriate.

FURTHER INTEGRATE FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL 

COUNTERTERRORISM INFORMATION-SHARING:

We will improve the ability to share timely and 

sensitive information on threats and the individuals 

p er p et r at ing t hem, whet her mot i vate d by 

domestic or foreign terrorist ideologies, across all 

levels of government. We will continue to ensure 

that law enforcement agencies across all levels 

of government have the information that they 

need to identify and act swiftly against terrorist 

activity. 

A M P L I F Y T H E I M P A C T O F C O U N T E R T E R R O R I S M 

OPERATIONS WITH STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS: We 

will integrate our strategic communications 

capabilit y across our ef for ts to send a clear 

message: those who threaten the United States 

will pay a serious price, and America stands 

in solidarity with the populations upon which 

terrorists prey. This message will aim to discredit 

terrorist narratives, dissuade potential terrorist 

supporters, and demonstrate that the effects of 

our counterterrorism operations are not limited 

solely to direct action. 
15

Terrorists cannot sustain their 

operations without these 

resources. The United States 

and our par tner s abroad 

and in the private sec tor 

mus t , t h e refore, pre ve nt 

terrorists from using them 

while safeguarding these 

resources for legitimate use. 

To accomplish this, we will 

increase information-sharing 

with the private sector and will 

tear down existing barriers to 

information-sharing. Around 

the globe, we will promote 

ef fe c t i ve enforcement of 

l e g i s l a t i o n a n d p o l i c i e s 

a im e d at p r ote c t in g t h e 

commerce, transportation, 

and communication industries. We will also identify 

policies that must change as terrorists adapt.

Priority Actions

E N H A N C E D E T E C T I O N A N D 

D I S R U P T I O N O F T E R R O R I S T 

TRAVEL: We will continue to 

collec t and share relevant 

information on terrorist travel 

and identities, with a focus on 

providing information that the 

public and private sector can 

use to identify and disrupt the 

movement of terrorists. We will 

also continue to work closely 

with our partners to enhance 

travel securit y and border 

protection to prevent terrorists 

fleeing conflict zones from 

infiltrating civilian populations. 

By sharing identity information 

and exploiting publicly available information, such 

as social media, we will identify these terrorists 

Isolate Terrorists from Financial, 

Material, and Logistical

Sources of Support

 

The technological advances of the past century have created an interconnected 

world in which it is easier than ever to quickly move people, funding, material, 

and information across the globe. The backbone of this interconnected system 

is information technology—largely created and facilitated by the United States 

Government and private industry—that is increasingly enabling faster transactions 

of all kinds across the world. Terrorists use these same publicly available technologies 

to command and control their organizations and to plot attacks, travel, and abuse 

the global financial system to raise funds and procure weapons, materiel, and basic 

necessities.

“As we deny terrorist 

organizations control of 

territory and populations, we 

must also strip them of their 

access to funds. We must cut 

off the financial channels that 

let ISIS sell oil, let extremists 

pay their fighters, and help 

terrorists smuggle their 

reinforcements.” 

PRESIDENT

DONALD J. TRUMP
NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR COUNTERTERRORISM

16

and enable law enforcement action against them in 

their home countries. In these efforts, we will take 

appropriate steps to protect privacy, civil rights, and 

civil liberties.

COUNTER EXISTING AND EMERGING TERRORIST FUNDING 

METHODS: We will collaborate across the public and 

private sectors to enhance information-sharing 

regarding terrorists’ financial data, transactions, and 

activities. We will use this information and our economic authorities, including financial sanctions and 

other financial measures, as well as law enforcement 

action, to deny terrorists the ability to raise funds, 

including by disrupting terrorist financing and dismantling terrorist support networks, to prevent terrorists from abusing the United States and global 

financial systems, and to dissuade people from providing funds or materiel to terrorists. We will also 

share this information and collaborate with foreign partners to support their own targeted actions 

against terrorist financing networks and promote the 

effective implementation of international standards 

to counter terrorist financing worldwide.

PREVENT DEVELOPMENT AND ACQUISITION OF ATTACK 

CAPABILITIES: We will prevent terrorists from developing or acquiring knowledge and material that enables 

the development of WMD and other advanced weapons, including the capability to perform large-scale 

cyber attacks. We will work with partner nations, 

international organizations, and commercial entities 

to improve their capacity to secure dangerous materials and ensure that terrorists cannot exploit the scientific and academic communities to acquire new 

capabilities.

EXPOSE AND COUNTER STATE SUPPORT TO TERRORISM:

While some countries, such as Iran, continue to use 

terrorism as an overt tool of their foreign policy, 

most countries that provide support for terrorists do 

so clandestinely, exploiting legitimate commercial 

networks to conceal their support activity. The 

United States will continue to acquire evidence of 

these states’ deceptive practices and work with 

allies and partners to identify and punish states that 

support terrorism.
17

We will, therefore, move toward seamless integration 

and analysis of all information available to the United 

States and our partners and 

develop technology to enable 

lawful and appropriate responses 

that rapidly identify and stop terrorist threats. As we continue to 

protect information appropriately, 

we will deny terrorists the ability to take advantage of our open 

society, and we will stop them 

before they can attack.

Priority Actions

S E C U R E O U R B O R D E R S F R O M 

TERRORIST THREATS: We will integrate capabilities and authorities from across the United States 

Government and coordinate with our partners 

abroad to prevent terrorists from entering the homeland. Our efforts will begin overseas, where we will 

ensure that our partners share and use information, such as watchlists, biometric information, and 

travel data, to prevent terrorists and fleeing foreign 

fighters from traveling to the United States. We will 

also share technology that allows partners to screen 

cargo and baggage for threats, 

including WMD materials and 

precursors. At our borders, we 

will modernize our screening 

and identity intelligence capabilities to track terrorist travelers and prevent the entry of 

those who support terrorist ideologies and violence.

D E P L O Y T H E I N T E G R A T E D 

FEDER A L COUNTERTERRORISM 

COMMUNITY AT LOCAL LEVELS: We 

will continue to appropriately 

staff and support joint terrorism task forces and 

interagency fusion centers with leaders and team 

members detailed from a variety of departments 

and agencies. This will ensure that the federal 

government is able to deploy our full range of 

exper tise and authorities where it will most 

effectively support state and local law enforcement 

partners.

Modernize and Integrate a Broader Set

of United States Tools and

Authorities to Counter Terrorism and

Protect the Homeland

 

Terrorists are typically clandestine actors, banding in small groups or acting alone 

and hiding in plain sight. We must stay ahead of terrorist attacks by advancing our 

detection capabilities and capacity to share early indicators with those who can piece 

together plot information and take action. 

“While we will always 

welcome new citizens who 

share our values and love our 

people, our borders will always 

be closed to terrorism and 

extremism of any kind.” 

PRESIDENT

DONALD J. TRUMP
NAT I O NAL STRATEGY FOR COUNTERTERROR I S M

18

ADOPT TECHNOLOGIES TO PROCESS DATA: We will harness technologies that allow our counterterrorism 

efforts to keep pace with a dynamic environment 

and build holistic identities of terrorists. The technologies we develop will be usable and accessible 

across the agencies of the United States Government 

to ensure sharing and integration. We will also seek 

to enhance our ability to access terrorist communications, including by using technical tools and by law 

enforcement working with private industry to confront 

challenges posed by technological barriers.

BUILD A HOLISTIC PICTURE OF TERRORISTS’ IDENTITIES:

We will enhance the collection, discovery, and 

exploitation of identity information supporting the 

counterterrorism mission, particularly biometric 

data. We will also identify and use other categories 

of identity information, including publicly available 

information, financial intelligence, and captured 

enemy material. We will improve the interoperability 

among United States Government systems to enable 

more efficient sharing of this information, bolstering 

our analysis and screening capabilities. 

INVESTIGATE AND INTEGRATE THREAT INFORMATION 

RELATING TO DOMESTIC TERRORISTS AND THEIR OVERSEAS COUNTERPARTS: Where lawful and appropriate, departments and agencies will investigate ties 

between domestic terrorists not motivated by radical Islamist ideologies and their overseas counterpar ts to more fully understand them. This 

investigation will include identifying indicators of 

mobilization to violence. Where applicable, we will 

better integrate domestic terrorism information into 

our analysis of homeland threats and continue information-sharing among our federal, state, local, and 

tribal law enforcement partners.

UPDATE COUNTERTERRORISM POLICIES: We will fully 

empower the national security and law enforcement communities to pursue terrorist threats to their 

source and prevent terrorist attacks while respecting Americans’ rights. We will focus on policies that 

have not kept up with the evolving threat picture and 

technology environment. For example, we will allow 

agencies to more easily share identity intelligence 

about terrorists and use publicly available information to preempt emerging threats. 
19

Critical infrastructure has long been subject to physical threats and is now increasingly exposed to the 

risk of attacks in cyberspace. Our infrastructure is 

also interconnected, meaning 

that damage or disruption of 

one infrastructure element can 

cause cascading effects impacting other forms of infrastructure. 

We will stop terrorists’ attempts 

to break through our defenses 

by building strong partnerships 

and by implementing innovative methods for protecting our 

infrastructure from attack and 

disruption. 

In addition, working with a range of stakeholders, 

including those from the private sector and civil 

society, we will enhance preparedness and increase 

public awareness about national ef for ts and 

successes in confronting terrorism to increase public 

trust and confidence in America’s strength. 

Priority Actions

 ENHANCE DEFENSIVE MEASURES FOR INFRASTRUCTURE 

AND SOFT TARGETS: As terrorists 

seek new ways to attack our 

infrastructure and soft targets—

both at home and abroad—we 

will improve and innovate our 

layered defenses. We will ensure 

redundancy of our systems, 

including systems in cyberspace, 

an d de ve lop m ea s ure s for 

rapid recovery for systems if an 

attack should occur, facilitating 

their quick return to normal 

operations.

BROADEN AWARENESS OF THE TERRORIST THREAT TO 

UNITED STATES CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE: We will 

ensure that key private sector and foreign partners 

are informed of the potential terrorist threat to their 

facilities. We will incorporate state and local law 

Protect United States

Infrastructure and Enhance

Preparedness

 

The critical infrastructure of the United States—much of which is privately owned—

provides the essential goods and services that drive American prosperity. Coordinated 

efforts are, therefore, necessary to strengthen and maintain secure and resilient 

critical infrastructure and to prepare Americans to respond appropriately should 

an attack occur. By integrating and improving preparedness across all levels of 

government as well as the private and public sectors, we will stop terrorists from 

undermining our security and prosperity. 

“As we rebuild America’s 

strength and confidence at 

home, we are also 

restoring our strength and 

standing abroad.” 

PRESIDENT

DONALD J. TRUMP
NAT I O NAL STRATEGY FOR COUNTERTERROR I S M

20

enforcement and emergency services personnel 

as well as critical infrastructure participants into 

national exercises featuring realistic terrorism 

scenarios.

ENHANCE PREPAREDNESS AND PROMOTE READINESS: 

Partnering with an expanded network of organizations, individuals, and all levels of government, we will ensure that our society is prepared 

to withstand and quickly recover from a terrorist 

attack, including the possibility of a WMD attack. 

We will do this by conducting public information 

campaigns, training emergency response personnel, and ensuring the viability of our emergency 

notification systems. Recognizing that past terrorist attacks often targeted the private sector and civilians, we will welcome their partnership in sharing 

best practices in stopping and recovering from terrorist attacks and related incidents.

DEVELOP A PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGY: Through 

a coordinated counterterrorism communications 

plan, we will educate the public on how to prepare for, respond during, and quickly recover after an 

attack. We will also train federal, state, and local interlocutors on interactions with the public that foster a 

culture of preparedness and resilience. 
21

Priority Actions

INSTITUTIONALIZE A PREVENTION ARCHITECTURE TO 

THWART TERRORISM: We will support local solutions 

and empower stakeholders, providing them with 

the knowledge and resources they need to address 

terrorist threats. Early warning systems, including 

bystander reporting, will be a critical component 

of this architecture. We will also work closely with 

foreign partners, the technology sector, religious 

leaders, local stakeholders, and international fora 

to identify and share best practices. We will also 

seek to promote voices of pluralism and tolerance. 

Through these efforts, we will prevent radicalization 

and mobilization to violence across all violent 

extremist ideologies.

COMBAT VIOLENT EXTREMIST IDEOLOGIES: We will 

undermine the ability of terrorist ideologies, particularly radical Islamist terrorist ideologies, to create a common identity and sense of purpose among 

potential recruits. We must combat the resilience of 

terrorist narratives by acknowledging that their ideologies contain elements that have enduring appeal 

among their audiences. To undercut terrorist recruiting, we will demonstrate that their claims are false 

and do not offer effective solutions. We will exploit 

doubts among potential recruits to reduce terrorists' ability to incite violence and recruit. We will also 

communicate alternatives and promote off ramps 

from violence to prevent individuals from becoming 

more committed to these ideologies and their violent means. Throughout this cycle of recruitment 

and mobilization, we will take advantage of our operational, diplomatic, and development successes to 

demonstrate the futility of terrorist violence.

I N C R E A S E C I V I L S O C I E T Y ’ S R O L E I N T E R R O R I S M 

PREVENTION: Through engagement, public communications, and diplomacy, we will strengthen 

and connect our partners in civil society who are 

eager to expand their limited terrorism prevention 

efforts. We will raise awareness of radicalization 

and recruitment dynamics, highlight successful prevention and intervention approaches domestically 

and overseas, and empower local partners through 

Counter Terrorist Radicalization and

Recruitment

 

Over the past seventeen years, we have built a robust counterterrorism architecture 

to stop attacks and eliminate terrorists, but we have not developed a prevention 

architecture to thwart terrorist radicalization and recruitment. Unless we counter 

terrorist radicalization and recruitment, we will be fighting a never-ending battle 

against terrorism in the homeland, overseas, and online. Our strategy, therefore, will 

champion and institutionalize prevention and create a global prevention architecture 

with the help of civil society, private partners, and the technology industry.
NAT I O NAL STRATEGY FOR COUNTERTERROR I S M

22

outreach, training, and international exchanges. We 

will also promote grassroots efforts to identify and 

address radicalization to insulate civilian populations from terrorist influence.

S U P P O R T I N T E R V E N T I O N , R E I N T EG R AT I O N , A N D 

COUNTER-RECIDIVISM EFFORTS: We will identif y 

signs of violent radicalization and mobilization to 

focus real-world and online intervention efforts to 

prevent terrorist attacks. We will work to limit prison 

radicalization by training prison staff and supporting 

rehabilitation. We will also work with foreign 

partners to address the challenge of reintegrating 

returning foreign terrorist fighters, their families, and 

children into their communities. 

COMBAT TERRORISTS' INFLUENCE ONLINE: We will 

combat terrorist use of cyberspace as a global stage 

to showcase their violent ideologies, to fundraise, 

and to radicalize, recruit, and mobilize individuals 

to violence. In concert with our partners, we will 

expand relationships with technology sector entities 

to empower them to combat violent extremism 

online and terrorists' abuse of their platforms. We 

will continue to expose and counter the flood of 

terrorist ideology online.

COUNTER R A DIC A LIZ ATION THROUG H S TR ATEG IC 

COMMUNICATIONS: Within the United States 

Government, we will create a common operating 

picture of terrorists' propaganda activities to detect 

and combat terrorists' narratives and better understand the audiences that they try to influence. With 

coalition members and our partners in civil society 

and international media, we will explain our counterterrorism efforts, highlight examples of non-violent means to address grievances, amplify success 

stories of development and recovery, and promote 

positive narratives.
23

Central to this approach is the adoption of proactive diplomatic engagement, development assistance, and security assistance to help our partners act independently and, ultimately, invest 

more of their own capital in bolstering counterterrorism efforts.

We will call on our capable and 

well-resourced partners to increase 

their support to countries lacking 

resources and capabilities. Some 

partners have better access, expertise, resources, and relationships 

in particular geographic and thematic areas, and we will encourage them to employ and refine such tools to more 

effectively internationalize counterterrorism efforts 

while reducing reliance on United States assistance. We will also continue to work with our less 

resourced, non-traditional, or novel partners who 

may make unique contributions to help advance 

our shared counterterrorism efforts. Over time, this 

will result in a more balanced, equitable, and effective global approach to counterterrorism.

Priority Actions

ESTABLISH A BROADER RANGE OF COUNTERTERRORISM 

PARTNERSHIPS: Our increasingly interconnected 

world demands that we prioritize 

the partnerships that will lead to 

both actions and enduring efforts 

that diminish terrorism. The United 

States will, therefore, partner with 

governments and organizations, 

including allied nations, the technology sector, financial institutions, 

and civil society. We will use diplomatic engagement with partner 

governments and further mobilize existing coalitions and multilateral and international fora to increase the will of capable partners to act against threats while encouraging the 

implementation of international counterterrorism 

standards and the coordination of international 

burden-sharing efforts. 

SUPPORT COUNTERTERRORISM CAPABILITIES OF KEY 

FOREIGN PARTNERS: We will continue to augment 

the capabilities of key foreign partners to conduct 

critical counterterrorism activities. We will help 

Strengthen the Counterterrorism

Abilities of International Partners

 

While the United States will continue to lead and provide support to partners in the 

fight against terrorism, our country need not sustain the primary responsibility for 

counterterrorism activities around the world. To address this issue, we will work to 

increase our partners' awareness of terrorist threats and strengthen their capacity 

and willingness to address them.

“We must seek partners, 

not perfection—and 

to make allies of all 

who share our goals.” 

PRESIDENT

DONALD J. TRUMP
NAT I O NAL STRATEGY FOR COUNTERTERROR I S M

24

to professionalize the military, law enforcement, 

judicial, intelligence, and security services, as well 

as financial authorities, of key partners so that they 

are able to conduct counterterorrism operations 

effectively and justly. We will also work to ensure 

that partners meet their responsibilities in holding 

their citizens accountable for any acts of terrorism 

committed abroad. In addition, we will enhance the 

capabilities of key foreign partners to investigate 

and prosecute terrorism across borders through law 

enforcement cooperation, mutual legal assistance, 

and extradition.

EXPAND PARTNER INFORMATION-SHARING: To stay 

ahead of emerging terrorist trends and methods, 

we will prioritize the sharing of information, such as 

biometric and geolocational data and information 

about new threats, including terrorists' initial 

research into new attack capabilities. Building 

on solid partnerships and processes for sharing 

information, we will continue to improve the capacity 

for information-sharing and work with partners 

to allow them to more effectively act on shared 

information.

SUPPORT LOCALLY-DRIVEN TERRORISM PREVENTION: 

We will work with local stakeholders and civil society 

to mitigate the grievances that terrorists exploit. 

Internationally, where United States interests are 

at stake, we will seek and encourage locally driven 

solutions that target specific causes of terrorist 

radicalization and mobilization to violence. We will 

work with partners to encourage positive narratives 

that promote tolerance and security.
25

Conclusion

Projecting American Strength

This new approach to counterterrorism does not rest 

on the idealistic hope of an easy and unthreatening 

world. Terrorism will persist as a 

tactic of those who view our democracy as a threat to their tyrannical 

aspirations, but the United States 

will remain secure through our 

strength, innovation, and independence of action. We will stay ahead 

of our terrorist adversaries by ensuring that we have the infrastructure, 

tools, authorities, practices, people, 

and the political will to apply the full 

range of our strengths against their vulnerabilities. As 

fascists and communists did before them, terrorists 

seek to use our openness, tolerance, and freedoms 

against us. They will fail.

We will relentlessly pursue those 

terrorists that seek to harm our 

country and remain vigilant and 

vigorous in our prevention of 

attacks. We will not yield to adversaries who attack us with bombs, 

bullets, or propaganda. We will 

rise to every challenge, face the 

enemy on every front, and ensure 

a future of peace, security, and 

prosperity for our country and the world. We will protect the American dream.

This National Strategy for Counterterrorism marks a shift in America's approach to 

countering and preventing terrorism. We will lead with our principles and a cleareyed understanding of a constantly changing operating environment. While this 

strategy was necessarily formulated against a backdrop of the threats we face today, 

it provides flexible guidance to enable an effective approach against an agile and 

adaptive terrorist threat. 

“Our friends will never 

question our support, and 

our enemies will never 

doubt our determination.” 

PRESIDENT

DONALD J. TRUMP