Russian state media’s sudden change in tone towards US President Donald Trump reveals the transactional nature of authoritarian propaganda. Once warmly welcomed, Trump’s anti-establishment rhetoric and support for Vladimir Putin were seen as a disruptor of Western unity and a useful counterweight to traditional democratic norms.
However, after Trump announced new defensive and offensive weapons for Ukraine, threats to impose tariffs on Moscow, and vowed to “bomb the sh*t out of Moscow” if Russia attacks a NATO ally, Kremlin propagandists have turned against him. Former Florida deputy sheriff and fugitive John Mark Dougan, now working for the Kremlin, has publicly ridiculed Trump, calling him an “idiot” and accusing him of being in bed with neocons.
This shift is not unique to Trump; Russian state media has previously abandoned support for politicians who serve their interests once they are no longer useful. In March 2017, after fueling Trump’s rise with favorable coverage during the 2016 election, Kremlin media abruptly shifted tone and portrayed his presidency as chaotic and divisive.
The change in Russian state media’s stance towards Trump serves as a reminder that the Kremlin’s primary goal is to undermine US democracy. Experts say that authoritarian propaganda is a tool used by the Kremlin to achieve this goal, amplifying figures who serve their interests before discarding them when they are no longer useful.
As Trump continues to face criticism from Russian state media, it remains to be seen whether he will change his tune and regain favor with Moscow’s propagandists. However, the pattern of using politicians as assets is clear: figures like Trump are never allies but rather pawns in the Kremlin’s information war.
Source: https://www.newsguardrealitycheck.com/p/putin-mouthpieces-turn-on-trump-revealing