Beijing and Moscow reacted swiftly and favorably this week after President Donald Trump signed an executive order shuttering Voice of America, Radio Free Asia, and other U.S.-funded broadcasters long tasked with countering authoritarian narratives. Chinese and Russian state media outlets celebrated the decision, framing it as a victory against what they described as decades of hostile propaganda.
"The so-called beacon of freedom, VOA, has now been discarded by its own government like a dirty rag," Chinese state-run Global Times said in an editorial Monday. The paper labeled VOA "a lie factory," specifically criticizing its coverage of human rights issues in Xinjiang, the South China Sea territorial disputes, and Taiwan.
Trump's executive order dissolves the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which has overseen these media entities for decades. A White House statement described the agencies as promoting "radical propaganda" and claimed U.S. taxpayers were unfairly subsidizing them.
Kremlin-aligned media similarly welcomed the move. Margarita Simonyan, editor-in-chief of RT, applauded the decision, stating, "Today is a holiday for me and my colleagues at RT and Sputnik. This is an awesome decision by Trump! We couldn't shut them down, unfortunately, but America did so itself."
Dmitry Peskov, spokesperson for Russian President Vladimir Putin, downplayed the presence of the outlets in Russia, commenting, "These media outlets can hardly be called popular or in demand in Russia; they are purely propagandistic. This is an internal sovereign matter of the United States; it does not particularly concern us."
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) and VOA have long been critical of the Kremlin's actions, including coverage of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, corruption allegations, and the suppression of political dissent. RFE/RL's Moscow bureau was forced to close in 2022 after years of mounting pressure.
Four current and former Kremlin officials told The Moscow Times that the closure of these outlets benefits Russian influence in post-Soviet states. One diplomat stated, "They undoubtedly caused us harm in post-Soviet countries, as their work was aimed at dividing us and our allies."
In China, media commentators echoed similar sentiments. A Beijing Daily columnist wrote that VOA "has been notorious for spreading lies" and suggested, "the world is waking up."
Critics of Trump's decision warned of serious consequences for U.S. foreign policy and the global information landscape. Michael Sobolik, senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, told Newsweek, "Every administration is entitled to review federal programs and bring them into alignment with the president's priorities and the national interest. But axing VOA and RFA goes well beyond that. The Chinese Communist Party is rejoicing at RFA's demise. Whenever your adversary applauds you, stop and reassess."
Reporters Without Borders Director General Thibaut Bruttin cautioned that the closure sends a "chilling signal" and may allow Chinese and Russian state actors to "spread their propaganda unchecked." Bruttin also raised concerns about the safety of journalists previously employed by the outlets, warning that they could face retribution.
Kari Lake, Trump-appointed USAGM senior adviser, defended the move, stating, "This agency is not salvageable. From top-to-bottom, this agency is a giant rot and burden to the American taxpayer-a national security risk for this nation-and irretrievably broken."
Founded during World War II to counter Nazi propaganda, VOA broadcasted in 48 languages, reaching over 300 million people weekly. RFE/RL, established during the Cold War, played a pivotal role in delivering uncensored news to Eastern Bloc nations. Radio Free Asia, launched in 1996, focused primarily on Asia's restrictive regimes, notably China.
Russian television presenter Vladimir Solovyov also applauded the decision, calling for independent journalists critical of the Kremlin to "die in a ditch," signaling an emboldened authoritarian media environment following the closure.
