Diplomats Called to Combat Anti-American Propaganda on Social Media

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has urged U.S. diplomats to partner with military psychological operations experts to counter anti-American propaganda, particularly on social media platform X. The directive comes as hostile nations continue sophisticated information warfare campaigns aimed at undermining U.S. interests globally.

The timing of Rubio’s directive coincides with Iran’s increasingly effective propaganda efforts, including viral Lego-style animations paired with rap tracks that have reached worldwide audiences. These creative approaches represent just one front in an ongoing information war waged by America’s geopolitical rivals.

Russia, China, and Iran have long utilized social media platforms to spread divisive rhetoric and propaganda designed to undermine Washington’s influence. The platform X, with its global reach, has become a primary battleground for both overt messaging and covert operations.

Kremlin accounts have embraced internet culture in their messaging, deploying memes and sarcastic responses to discredit American positions. In one example, the Russian embassy in the UK tweeted a meme showing a woman telling a police officer that “the Russians hacked my speedometer,” mocking allegations of Russian cyber capabilities. On another occasion, the Russian Foreign Ministry sarcastically responded to a CIA job advertisement, thanking them for “promoting the Russian language.”

Chinese diplomatic accounts adopted an aggressive “Wolf Warrior” posture beginning in 2017, directly attacking the United States on social media. Chinese diplomats have mocked U.S. disaster relief efforts, denied the Uyghur genocide, insulted world leaders, and spread false claims that the U.S. Army created COVID-19.

Beyond these broad public campaigns, China has launched targeted influence operations aimed at specific regional audiences. Recent campaigns have targeted Filipino audiences with content disparaging the U.S.-Philippine alliance, while Latin American audiences have been presented with claims of U.S. election interference in Honduras.

Iran has deployed increasingly sophisticated tactics, including hackers posing as American citizens—particularly Latinas in Texas and California—using AI-generated images to create false personas. The Iranian government also established networks of fake news websites targeting global audiences, many with associated social media accounts. During recent military exchanges with the U.S. and Israel, Iranian-aligned accounts flooded social media with disparaging content about both countries and fabricated images purporting to show successful Iranian strikes.

Western countries have begun developing countermeasures to this information warfare. In 2023, the French Foreign Ministry launched an account called “FrenchResponse” specifically designed to combat disinformation on X. The account employs sarcasm and internet humor to refute false claims about France and the European Union. A French spokesman described the initiative as “another string to our bow” in defending national interests in the information space.

Security experts suggest the United States should follow France’s lead, with American embassies and ambassadors actively engaging with disinformation narratives spread by adversaries. However, they emphasize that U.S. diplomats should not merely react to enemy propaganda but should go on the offensive by exposing uncomfortable truths about rival regimes.

The directive comes at a challenging time for U.S. information warfare capabilities. Congress eliminated the State Department’s Global Engagement Center (GEC) in 2024, an organization that previously contracted local experts to combat influence operations. While a State Department spokesperson noted that Rubio’s directive was not intended to replace the GEC, the cable demonstrates a continued need for similar capabilities.

Media observers note that the cable’s guidance on “telling America’s story” aligns with the existing charter of Voice of America and similar U.S. government broadcasts. Critics argue that attempts to dismantle these broadcasting services are counterproductive, suggesting that any legitimate critiques should be used to improve rather than eliminate these platforms.

Security analysts emphasize that while X represents an important platform for English-speaking audiences, the State Department must maintain presence on platforms popular in foreign countries, including Telegram, VK, WeChat, and even Iran’s Eitaa. A comprehensive approach across multiple platforms would allow American diplomats to more effectively counter hostile information operations and support dissident voices within autocratic societies.