US directs embassies to counter foreign propaganda using Elon Musk’s X platform and military psychological ops

Consensus Summary

The US State Department under Secretary Marco Rubio issued a classified directive on March 29 instructing all American embassies and consulates to launch coordinated campaigns against foreign propaganda, explicitly partnering with the Pentagon’s Psychological Operations unit to counter disinformation. The cable singles out Iran, Russia, and China as primary adversaries, framing their influence operations as direct threats to US national security by sowing division among allies and undermining American economic and political interests. Notably, the directive endorses Elon Musk’s X platform—particularly its Community Notes feature—as a tool to combat misinformation while preserving free speech, despite the EU’s recent €120 million fine against X for deceptive practices. The cable outlines five strategic goals, including countering hostile messaging, amplifying pro-US local voices, and repositioning US cultural centers as hubs for uncensored information. While the directive reflects a broader US effort to counter foreign disinformation—previously funded under the Global Engagement Center—the Trump administration dismantled key units like the State Department’s Counter Foreign Information Manipulation hub and the FBI’s foreign influence taskforce before taking office. The move signals a renewed emphasis on integrating public diplomacy with military psychological operations, though the State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.