Trump Administration Tells Diplomats Abroad Not to Comment on Foreign Elections

SadaNews - An internal memo obtained by Reuters shows that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has instructed American diplomats worldwide not to comment on the fairness or integrity of elections held by foreign countries.

This marks a significant departure from Washington's traditional approach of advocating for free and fair elections everywhere. The guidance sent to all U.S. diplomatic officials in a State Department internal cable on Thursday states that the department will no longer issue statements related to elections or post on social media from Washington unless there is a "clear and compelling" reason of interest within the framework of foreign policy.

The cable stated, "When it is appropriate to comment on foreign elections, our message should be brief and focus on congratulating the winning candidate, and where appropriate, referencing shared foreign policy interests." The cable was labeled "sensitive," but it was not classified.

It also added, "Messages should avoid commenting on the fairness or integrity of the electoral process or its legitimacy or the democratic values of the country in question." It specified that election-related messages should come either from the secretary himself or from the department's spokesperson, prohibiting American diplomats from making such statements without explicit approval from the department's senior leadership.

The cable referenced President Donald Trump's speech in Riyadh on May 13, where he criticized what he referred to as "Western meddling" dictating how Middle Eastern countries should manage their own affairs, stating that such matters are no longer Washington's concern and that it looks forward to establishing partnerships.

When asked about the cable, a U.S. State Department spokesperson reiterated in emailed comments some points contained in the guidance and stated that this approach aligns with the administration's focus on "national sovereignty."

The United States has long regarded the promotion of human rights, democracy, and press freedom as core objectives of its foreign policy; however, critics have repeatedly pointed to a double standard from Washington towards its allies.