Donald Trump’s administration is planning to spend $4 million to bolster right-wing media in Europe, part of a package of at least $25 million for civil society groups working on conservative causes in the region, according to four people familiar with the funding.
The grants risk deepening tensions between the Trump administration and European governments, some of which have already accused Washington of interfering in their domestic politics.
The U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL) says the funding is meant to strengthen transatlantic ties and promote free speech. It comes as European countries prepare for elections over the next couple of years, and as the Trump administration openly backs Europe’s populist right-wing and far-right parties.
Britain seems to be going downhill fast. If you’re trans, America is straight up a better deal at this point. Part of the problem is the coalitions you get in parliaments happen within our two major parties. So rather than a cogent far right base that has to compromise with moderates, they were able to hijack half our political structure with one win. Even so, until parties like AfD and its equivalents are banned, I wouldn’t act smug. Looking at how political winds are blowing on both sides, we might soon be in a position where we’re already rebuilding while you’re in the thick of it.