The Trump administration is set to fund initiatives promoting free speech in Europe, a senior U.S. State Department official said on Monday, signaling a pushback against online regulations in allied countries that Washington has labelled as censorship.
Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy Sarah Rogers, speaking in Budapest, said her office would use grants to support free speech efforts in Western democracies, emphasizing transparency and alignment with U.S. values. “I want to promote free speech in Western allied democracies, and… that’s what my grant making is going to be doing,” Rogers said.
Targeting European Online Rules
U.S. officials have criticised regulations like the EU’s Digital Services Act and the UK’s Online Safety Act, claiming they stifle free speech, particularly criticism of immigration policies, while placing heavy burdens on U.S. tech companies. Proponents of these laws, however, argue they are designed to curb hate speech, misinformation, and disinformation online.
Rogers’ European visit includes meetings in Dublin, Budapest, Warsaw, and Munich, where she plans to discuss digital freedom and freedom of speech with officials, think tanks, and advocacy groups. According to reports, discussions have included support for groups aligned with President Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” policies, though the State Department did not confirm specific funding.
Censorship Concerns and US Policy
The Trump administration’s December National Security Strategy criticised European leaders for allegedly censoring speech and suppressing opposition to immigration policies, which Washington described as risking “civilisational erasure.” Following this, the U.S. imposed visa bans on a former EU commissioner and four anti-disinformation campaigners, prompting European condemnation.
Rogers also engaged with far-right European parties she said have been affected by online regulations, arguing that legitimate anti-immigration viewpoints are being silenced. “You don’t have self governance without freedom of speech, you can’t have a democratic deliberation if viewpoints are proscribed from the public square,” she said.
