The new policy follows other moves to eliminate tools that promote democracy and human rights. The administration has tried to end funding for the National Endowment for Democracy, established under Ronald Reagan. (Full disclosure: I’m on the organization’s board of directors.) It is also working to demolish Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (broadcasting to Eastern Europe, Central Asia, the Caucasus, and the Middle East), Radio Martí (Cuba), Radio Free Asia, and the Voice of America. All these organizations seek to advance U.S. interests by advancing U.S. values. High among these are democracy and human rights.

The Trump administration continues to abandon human rights and democracy as elements of its foreign policy. On July 17, Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly instructed U.S. diplomats abroad to stop commenting on the fairness of foreign elections, and to simply congratulate the winners. This reverses decades of U.S. practice, in which Washington regularly expressed its opposition to stolen or farcical votes.

The Trump administration continues to abandon human rights and democracy as elements of its foreign policy. On July 17, Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly instructed U.S. diplomats abroad to stop commenting on the fairness of foreign elections, and to simply congratulate the winners. This reverses decades of U.S. practice, in which Washington regularly expressed its opposition to stolen or farcical votes.

The new policy follows other moves to eliminate tools that promote democracy and human rights. The administration has tried to end funding for the National Endowment for Democracy, established under Ronald Reagan. (Full disclosure: I’m on the organization’s board of directors.) It is also working to demolish Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (broadcasting to Eastern Europe, Central Asia, the Caucasus, and the Middle East), Radio Martí (Cuba), Radio Free Asia, and the Voice of America. All these organizations seek to advance U.S. interests by advancing U.S. values.