In a presidential order last week, Donald Trump announced that the appropriations of several federal authorities would be examined and “eliminated to the extent that is compatible with the law”.
Seven authorities were identified, including the United States Agency for Global Media, which funds international news channels such as Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Radio Free Asia.
EU-summary: gave us information on the other side of the iron curtain
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty was founded during the Cold War and broadcasts today in 23 countries, including Russia, Belarus, Iran and Afghanistan.
– For us on the other side of the iron curtain, it was the radio that we got a lot of information from what was really going on. It has been a democracy’s joint, said EU’s foreign manager, Kaja is called on Monday.
Voice of America’s Director, Michael Abramowitz, announced that 1,300 journalists and employees were temporarily taken out of service.
“I am deeply sorry that Voice of America is silenced for the first time in 83 years”, writes Abramowitz.
“Autocrats in Moscow and Minsk would celebrate”
In a statement Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s President Stephen Capus stated that the grant agreement has been torn down – something he calls a gift to US enemies.
“The Iranian Ayatollers, China’s communist leader and autocrates in Moscow and Minsk would celebrate,” says Capus.
He warns that 50 million people in closed societies are now deprived of the truth – and that the decision risks weakening the United States at the same time as its enemies are strengthened.
The decision is praised in Russia and in China
At the same time, Trump’s decision was hailed by Russian propagandists who also wanted life out of journalists at the affected organizations, reports Kyiv Post.
“Today is a holiday for my colleagues at RT and Sputnik because Trump suddenly announced the closure of Radio Liberty and Voice of America,” said Russian propagandist Vladimir Solovyov and added:
– Die, your fucking, because you are lying, disgusting and disgusting traitors to the motherland.
The decision was also celebrated in China. State -controlled media attacked and called Voice of America a ‘lie factory’ with a ‘scary track record’ linked to reporting on China, NBC reports.