Jackson Hinkle is an American social media personality, a self-described "Conservative Communist," and a vocal supporter of Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong-Un, South African extremist Julius Malema (Economic Freedom Fighters), Hamas, and Hezbollah. Hinkle is the founder of the American Communist Party and runs a social media-based media outlet called, "Legitimate Targets," which he uses to promote his anti-NATO, pro-Russian, pro-Iranian, and anti-Israel viewpoints. Hinkle is emblematic of the broader White Jihad movement, and represents a growing fascination among Western extremists with Hamas and Hezbollah.
In October 2024, Hinkle made headlines for interviewing representatives of the terrorist-designated Houthi movement on the one-year anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel. He has since followed this with a trip to Qatar and Lebanon, during which he interviewed leaders of Hamas. He plans to attend the funeral of former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.
While the provision of material support to designated terrorist groups – including Hamas and the Houthis – is illegal under 18 U.S. Code § 2339B, it appears that meeting with, and platforming, members and leaders of these groups is not currently illegal under U.S. law.
The following report will highlight Hinkle's ongoing trip to the Middle East, as well as his meetings and interviews with senior representatives of Hamas.
Hinkle Visits Doha And Interviews Hamas Official Basem Naim; Meets Lebanese Hamas Leader Osama Hamdan
On February 15, 2025, Hinkle posted an image of himself in Msheireb, in downtown Doha, and wrote on X: "Hello Doha, Qatar!"
He followed this up with a short video from what appears to be a hotel room. In the video, he is wearing a black-and-white keffiyeh. He states: "So I just landed in Qatar, and I got a big interview tomorrow. Maybe some of you can guess who it might be with. Follow along on my Twitter."
A day later, Hinkle announced that he had "interviewed Hamas." He shared images of himself meeting Hamas leader Basem Naim and being given a Palestine scarf and pin. Hinkle wrote: "I INTERVIEWED HAMAS. Full interview tomorrow at 3pm ET."
Hinkle also shared an image of himself standing with Naim and senior Lebanese Hamas leader Osama Hamdan. He wrote: "It was a great honor to meet & interview Hamas! Full interview is AVAILABLE NOW!"
The interview itself covered topics including the October 7 attacks and the continued conflict between Hamas and Israel. Throughout the interview, Hinkle argued for the "right to resist… including armed resistance" and concluded the meeting by claiming that American public opinion was behind Hamas. He said: "The Palestinians and you have my FULL support and the support of MANY Americans. The tide is shifting, and we just love you guys!"
Naim's final statement praised the pro-Palestine protest movements across the United States, saying "When we have seen all these thousands of people - in the streets, universities, rail stations, inside the Capitol hall, everywhere - we have belief that this brought us nearer to the goals, our national goals, because we know that at the end America is the decisive power in this context and this huge mass of people who are raising their voices, and paying prices for this to support our goal, it is a good sign that we are on the right track."
Hinkle shared a screenshot from his interview, in which he is seen shaking hands with Basem Naim. Hinkle wrote, "I PROUDLY SUPPORT PALESTINE!"
Various antisemitic and Islamist accounts on X celebrated Hinkle's visit and interview with Hamas. Syed Hasan Imam Zaidi wrote: "Jackson Hinkle has INTERVIEWED HAMAS' Basem Naim." The post was then re-published by Hinkle.
Hinkle concluded his time in Qatar with another selfie, writing: "THANK YOU BEAUTIFUL QATAR!"
Hinkle Travels To Lebanon, Dons Hezbollah Scarf, Visits Nasrallah Assassination Site And Israeli Border, Plans To Attend Nasrallah Funeral
Shortly after his post about leaving Qatar on February 19, Hinkle posted an image of himself at a shrine to deceased Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, wearing a Hezbollah scarf, and wrote "HELLO, LEBANON!"
Various anti-Israel and pro-Hezbollah accounts shared the image, including @lambahamra, who wrote "most welcome brother."
Later, on February 19, Hinkle shared an image of himself standing at the site of the airstrike which killed Nasrallah. Hinkle wrote: "The site of the assassination of the martyr Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah. We should spend our taxes on fixing America, NOT ON ISRAELI TERRORISM!"
A day later, Hinkle claimed to have travelled south to Aadaysit, on the border with Israel. He wrote: "Today, I visited Aadaysit, Southern Lebanon on the Israeli border. 2 days ago, Israeli terrorists were here."
Hinkle shared a video from the site, writing: "Today I visited the SOUTH OF LEBANON ON ISRAEL'S BORDER. The Zionists from Miami & New York were hiding in their tanks."
On February 20 Hinkle also confirmed that he would be in attendance at the funeral of Nasrallah, posting a picture of himself in front of a Hezbollah statue and a billboard showing deceased Iranian general Qasem Soleimani and saying "I am honored to be attending the funeral of Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut, Lebanon."
Hinkle Previously Interviewed Houthi Leader Mohammed Al-Bukhaiti On Anniversary Of October 7, 2023, Attacks
In the first episode of the Legitimate Targets podcast, run by Hinkle, he interviewed senior Houthi leader Mohammed Al-Bukhaiti, calling the Houthi movement "one of the largest forces trying to shut down the genocide in Gaza, not through their words or social media posts, but through their actions."
Hinkle Praises Despots And Terrorists, Condemns Western Leaders
Hinkle has repeatedly praised and celebrated totalitarian and anti-Western figures, including Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, North Korean despot Kim Jong-Un, and extremist South African political figure Julius Malema, who is notorious for singing a song called "Dubul' ibhunu" (Kill the Boer, Kill the Farmer) at his political rallies. Additionally Hinkle has taken aim at various Western leaders, at Israel, and at NATO.
He has repeatedly praised Hamas and Hezbollah figures, including Nasrallah, calling him a "Hero" and saying "long live this man."
His praise of despots also extends to Iran, where he has praised Iranian leader Khameini.
Hinkle has repeatedly made clear his affection for Russia and dictator Vladimir Putin, often sharing A.I. generated images of Putin and calling him a hero, justifying the invasion of Ukraine, and claiming that Russia and Putin "fight for [the] freedoms" of his Western audience.
Julius Malema has been repeatedly singled out by Hinkle as a hero and an ideological model. Malema's ethnonationalist Economic Freedom Fighters party has been repeatedly criticized for its violent and racist rhetoric, and its incitement of violence against white South African farmers.
Additionally, Hinkle has praised the former Libyan dictator Muammar Ghaddafi, claiming that the leader – whose regime funded terrorist organizations in Northern Ireland, the Middle East, and Africa – "did NOTHING wrong."
