U.S. capitulation in information war

For decades, China and Russia have invested billions in battling American informational hegemony. The Kremlin created Russia Today, funded bot armies, and tried to promote its narratives through useful idiots. Beijing invested in media, bought up Western outlets, and tried to break through censorship barriers.

But despite all these efforts, the strategy did not produce the desired results. Voice of America and Radio Free Europe continued broadcasting, and the influence of American media resources around the world remained a key element of U.S. soft power.

Then Trump came along. And what happened? He decided to do what Putin and Xi Jinping couldn't: eliminate the U.S. media presence in the world.

Employees of Voice of America received letters about forced vacation. These letters were also seen by Reuters. Almost everyone working in various language services was out of work. The reason was that Trump signed a law reducing the US Agency for Global Media, the body that funded Voice of America and Radio Free Europe.

These media were not just news sources. They were weapons in the information war that secured American influence. Yes, these resources were criticized for their mistakes, but they remained the main tool for countering disinformation from Russia, China, and Iran.

And now? There’s no doubt that others will quickly take their place. Chinese funds will hook new media players onto their financial needle. Russia will expand its presence. And if before, Voice of America and Radio Free Europe competed for influence in the world, now Russia Today and some Chinese Worker’s Radio will take to the stage.

And here’s the main question: does the U.S. government really not understand the consequences of its actions? Or is this a deliberate destruction of America's informational power?

Because if Trump and Musk wanted to fight the "deep state" and American media, they succeeded in what Putin could only dream of.

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About the author: Maksym Nesvytaylov, international affairs expert

The editorial team does not always share the opinions expressed by the authors of the blogs.