The statement justifying the investment reads as follows: “Document and analyze the democratic backsliding in Europe in relation to massive and illegal immigration, the landscape of independent media, and the legislative agendas of supranational entities.”
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The United States government, which tries to limit or even eliminate minority voting, which seeks to control mail-in voting or threatens to send border agents (ICE) to intimidate citizens coming from immigration, plans to spend four million dollars to strengthen right-wing or far-right media in Europe.
This is part of a package of at least 25 million dollars intended for civil society groups working in favor of conservative causes in the Old Continent, according to the Reuters agency.
The grants could exacerbate tensions between the Trump administration and European governments, some of which have already accused Washington of interfering in their internal politics.
The Office of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) of the U.S. State Department stated that the funding aims to strengthen transatlantic ties and promote freedom of expression. The measure comes as European countries prepare to hold elections over the next two years and at a time when the Trump administration openly supports right-wing and far-right populist parties in Europe.
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The State Department notified Congress of its intention to allocate these funds on August 21. The investment also aims to create a consortium of independent journalists covering issues such as national sovereignty, natural rights, and religious freedom in Europe.
The inspiration comes from the supposed social media journalists and websites who now populate the White House press room and are the protagonists of many of the questions posed to Trump in the Oval Office, characterized by making compliant and very flattering statements about the president. Those who are not fake news.
As a practical consequence, the White House bets on the idea that, by funding certain media projects and networks of journalists, it will be able to change the narrative on issues such as immigration, sovereignty, and EU-wide regulations, areas in which right-wing political parties in Europe have made significant advances in recent years.
This demonstrates how the Trump administration has largely moved away from the traditional promotion of democracy and human rights by the U.S.
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