The article argues that, despite the Trump administration’s “America first” justification for cutting USAID, US public money is still being directed overseas — this time towards conservative European thinktanks and related initiatives. Its author presents the funding as an effort to expand a global Maga-aligned political agenda, raising concerns about US influence over domestic politics in allied countries.

The Guardian reported that the US state department plans to provide $12m to conservative organisations in the UK, including $7m for 878, a newly formed group co-founded by former Conservative minister Jacob Rees-Mogg. Additional European grants seek projects focused on national sovereignty, migration, censorship and “civilisational” values; Germany’s chancellor, Friedrich Merz, has warned against interference in German elections. The US embassy in London is also offering grants of up to $500,000 for public education programmes on shared UK-US values.