U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has directed American diplomats around the world to avoid commenting on the fairness or integrity of elections held in other countries, according to an internal State Department cable reviewed by Reuters on July 17. This marks a major shift from the U.S.’s long-standing tradition of promoting democracy and fair elections globally. The internal communication, dated July 17, instructs all U.S. diplomatic missions that the Department will no longer issue public statements or social media commentary on foreign elections from Washington unless there is a “clear and compelling” reason tied to U.S. foreign policy interests.

“When commentary on a foreign election is deemed appropriate, it should be concise, focused on congratulating the winner, and—where suitable—highlighting shared policy interests,” the cable stated. It emphasized avoiding any judgment on the election's fairness, legitimacy, or the democratic values of the host country. Additionally, the directive specifies that any such election-related messaging must come from the Secretary of State or the official Department spokesperson, and diplomats are prohibited from making such statements without prior approval from senior leadership.

The cable refers to President Trump’s May 13 speech in Riyadh, where he criticized Western interference in the internal affairs of Middle Eastern countries and signaled a shift toward focusing on partnerships based on mutual interests, rather than values. The directive reaffirms this stance, saying that while the U.S. will uphold its own democratic values and acknowledge them in others when appropriate, it will prioritize partnerships wherever strategic interests align. When questioned, a State Department spokesperson echoed the directive, stating that the new approach aligns with the administration’s commitment to “national sovereignty.”

Historically, the U.S. has championed human rights, democracy, and press freedom as central to its foreign policy. However, critics have often accused Washington of applying these principles inconsistently, especially with allies. Under Trump, there has been a noticeable pivot away from actively promoting democracy and human rights, viewing such efforts as unwelcome interference. For example, the administration has sought to reform the State Department’s human rights bureau, criticizing it for being used by left-wing activists to target conservative leaders. At the same time, Trump officials have not hesitated to speak out on European political matters, particularly in cases where they perceive conservative or right-wing voices being silenced, such as in Romania, Germany, and France—often criticizing these governments for stifling dissent under the guise of combating misinformation.