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Marco Rubio Urges US Diplomats to Use X to Fight 'anti-American Propaganda'
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 31, 2026
3 min readLast updated: March 31, 2026
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio has directed U.S. diplomats to leverage Elon Musk’s platform X—using tools like “community notes” and AI—and coordinate with Pentagon psychological operations to counter foreign anti‑American propaganda emerging through disinformation campaigns.
Marco Rubio urges US diplomats to use X to fight 'anti-American propaganda'
US Diplomats, Social Media, and Counter-Propaganda Efforts
By Raphael Satter
Rubio's Cable and Its Objectives
WASHINGTON, March 31 (Reuters) - U.S. diplomats should use social media platform X and partner with military psychological operations units in an effort to "counter foreign anti-American propaganda," Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a cable reviewed by Reuters.
The cable, whose existence was first reported by The Guardian, was devoted to ways to expose foreign influence operations and falsehoods that "pose a direct threat to U.S. national security and fuel hostility toward American interests."
State Department's Response
In a statement, the State Department said it would "continue to take an assertive stance on this pernicious issue" and that it would use "every tool in our diplomatic toolkit" while also protecting Americans' right to free expression.
Collaboration with Military Psychological Operations
The missive told diplomats to "coordinate with interagency partners as appropriate," singling out the Pentagon's Psychological Operations, formerly known as Military Information Support Operations (MISO).
Background on MISO
The cable did not elaborate, but MISO and its successor have traditionally aimed to sway enemy soldiers on the battlefield. MISO was behind U.S. propaganda efforts against Islamic State in Syria, including an incident in which tens of thousands of graphic cartoon-style leaflets showing recruits being shoved into a meatgrinder were air-dropped over the group's area of operations in 2015.
Past Friction Between Military and Diplomats
Military psyop deployments have in the past led to friction with U.S. diplomats. Under the first Trump administration, the Pentagon's psyops teams used bogus social media accounts to spread doubts about China's COVID-19 vaccine over the objections of State Department officials, Reuters has previously reported.
The Pentagon did not immediately return a message seeking comment on Rubio's cable or the nature of its psyops units' potential collaboration with diplomats.
Social Media Tools and Disinformation
The cable also urged diplomats to elevate trustworthy information and expose fakes by making use of tools such as the crowdsourced commentary function - dubbed "community notes" - on Elon Musk's social media platform X, as well as other, unspecified artificial intelligence tools.
Reactions from X and xAI
X and its owner, xAI, did not immediately reply to requests for comment. X has been routinely criticized for allowing disinformation to flourish after Musk gutted the site's moderation and safety teams following his 2022 takeover of what was then known as Twitter. X says the platform is designed to prioritize free speech, and that "community notes" are preferable to centralized moderation.
Musk, X, and Political Influence
Musk is a powerful Trump ally and his site has become a key node for pro-Trump social media influencers. xAI was last month acquired by Musk's rocket company SpaceX ahead of what is expected to be a landmark Wall Street debut, one that places X and the defense contractor under the same corporate roof.
(Reporting by Raphael Satter, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)
Key Takeaways
- •Rubio’s cable instructs diplomats to use X’s community notes and AI tools to highlight credible information and discredit disinformation, framing it as vital for U.S. national security
- •Diplomats are urged to coordinate with interagency partners, notably the Pentagon’s Psychological Operations (formerly MISO), marking a significant integration of social media diplomacy with military influence efforts
- •The strategy unfolds as X, under Musk, faces scrutiny for reduced content moderation and rising disinformation, yet is promoted here as a platform for public diplomacy and counter‑propaganda
Frequently Asked Questions about Marco Rubio urges US diplomats to use X to fight 'anti-American propaganda'
1Why does Marco Rubio want US diplomats to use X?
Marco Rubio urges US diplomats to use X to counter foreign anti-American propaganda and to elevate trustworthy information.
2What role will the Pentagon's psychological operations play?
Rubio's directive advises diplomats to coordinate with Pentagon psychological operations units to counteract foreign influence campaigns.
3What tools are proposed for combating disinformation?
The cable recommends using X's 'community notes' and other artificial intelligence tools to expose fake news and disinformation.
4Has military psyop cooperation caused friction before?
Yes, previous collaborations between Pentagon psyops teams and diplomats have caused friction, particularly regarding social media campaigns on health topics.
5What criticisms has X faced regarding misinformation?
X has been criticized for allowing disinformation after reducing moderation staff, but maintains 'community notes' as a preferred alternative to centralized controls.