EU drops sponsorship of disinformation conference at Trump officials’ request
Lithuania and Canada were also pressured to withdraw, and days before #Disinfo2026, logos were wiped off website
TL;DR
- The Trump administration pressured countries to withdraw sponsorship of the #Disinfo2026 conference on disinformation.
- Canada, Lithuania, and the EU's diplomatic service subsequently withdrew their support.
- The US State Department focused its concerns on a panel titled “USA as a FIMI threat: adapt, acknowledge, push back.”
- Logos of sponsoring countries were removed from the conference website and materials shortly before the event.
- Lithuania and Canada stated that parts of the conference program did not align with their official positions on the US role in disinformation.
- The EU confirmed the European External Action Service withdrew support due to how some discussions were framed.
- Despite withdrawing branding, the EU continues to fund the conference.
- France confirmed it did not change its commitment to supporting the conference.
- The US State Department has been increasing its interventionist posture towards free speech and civil society in Europe.