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The U.S. State Department is seeking to build out a consortium for “independent journalism” that will produce critical reporting on public policies in European countries, with a particular focus on immigration, “civilizational values” and “the state of sovereignty.”

President Donald Trump has not tried to hide his disdain for most European governments. “Your countries are going to hell,” he declared in a September 2025 speech at the United Nations, stating that Europe’s “open borders” — a claim at odds with Europe’s highly visible efforts to dissuade and deport immigrants — are leading to societal collapse. Vice President J.D. Vance has also openly campaigned for right-wing opposition parties across the continent, including the neo-fascist Alternative für Deutschland.

Now the Trump administration is seeking to bolster its critique of Europe under the guise of journalism.