Overview of the Document’s Objectives

A recently circulated document from the State Department seeks extensive staff communications that mention Donald Trump or individuals associated with him, such as Alex Jones and Glenn Greenwald. The request also includes searches for numerous keywords spanning topics like “Pepe the Frog,” “incel,” “QAnon,” “Black Lives Matter,” “great replacement theory,” “far-right,” and “infodemic.”

Reactions from State Department Officials

Some officials expressed significant concern regarding the document’s far-reaching information requests, likening it to a “witch hunt” that poses risks to the privacy and security of numerous individuals and organizations involved.

Intent Behind the Information Gathering

Tim Beattie, who was appointed as the acting undersecretary for public diplomacy by Trump in February, articulated that the aim of gathering these records was to create a “Twitter files”-like disclosure of internal State Department documents. His objective is to “rebuild trust” with the American public—an initiative somewhat reminiscent of the Twitter disclosures following Elon Musk’s acquisition of the platform.

Details of the Document’s Scope

Documented on March 11, 2025, this initiative primarily targets communications from the Counter Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (R/FIMI) Hub, a small office within the State Department’s Office of Public Diplomacy. This office was established after the Global Engagement Center (GEC) was disbanded at the end of 2024. Reports indicate that R/FIMI itself might soon be discontinued.

Individuals and Organizations Impacted

The information request encompasses a diverse array of nearly 60 individuals and organizations, including:

• Bill Gates
• Bellingcat, an open-source journalism outlet
• Clint Watts, former FBI special agent
• Nancy Faeser, German interior minister
• Daniel Fried, former US ambassador to Poland
• Renée DiResta, an expert in online disinformation
• Nina Jankowicz, former head of the Disinformation Governance Board

Concerns from Experts

Upon learning of their inclusion in this records request, individuals involved have raised alarm over such a list existing in an American institution. Bill Kristol, former chief of staff to Vice President Dan Quayle, questioned, “What would be the innocent reason for doing that?” Similarly, Daniel Fried remarked, “I’ve never heard of such a thing” in the U.S. context, drawing unsettling parallels to Eastern European practices under watching authorities.