Russia, China, and Iran are enlisting Americans to disseminate propaganda advancing their interests ahead of the US presidential election, American intelligence officials said Monday.
Some US citizens are knowingly helping foreign governments “seed, promote, and add credibility to narratives that serve the foreign actors’ interests,” according to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence's latest election security update. Others are being unwittingly drawn into assisting these efforts.
Although officials, who briefed reporters under conditions of anonymity, did not name specific US presidential candidates, they suggested that Russia is trying to support Republican nominee Donald Trump, while Iran seeks to undermine his campaign. Russian operatives have been working to build networks of US and Western “personalities” to create and spread Russian-friendly narratives.
These actors aim to support a presidential candidate, influence congressional elections, erode public confidence in the electoral process, and increase sociopolitical division, the intelligence office explained.
Regarding Iran, a US official noted that Iran is trying to influence the election as it did in 2020, following Trump's withdrawal from an international nuclear agreement and the imposition of heavy sanctions on Tehran. Russia, Iran, and China have all denied interfering in American elections.
The report also mentioned the attempted assassination of President Trump and Joe Biden’s decision to withdraw his candidacy as topics in influence narratives meant to undermine the electoral process. Officials declined to comment on whether any individuals associated with US presidential campaigns or lawmakers are knowingly assisting Russia's influence operations.
US intelligence agencies have observed the Kremlin outsourcing to marketing and public relations firms to shape public opinion in the US. These Russia-based influence-for-hire firms make tracing efforts more difficult and operate with fewer bureaucratic constraints than government agencies. The firms have developed platforms that discreetly engage Americans and tailor content while concealing Russia’s involvement. Earlier this year, two Russian firms were sanctioned for creating fake websites that impersonated government media organizations in Europe.
Similarly, the Chinese government has collaborated with a China-based technology company to enhance its covert influence operations, efficiently creating content that connects with local audiences. Officials declined to name the company involved. While China does not aim to influence the outcome of the presidential election, Beijing-related actors may try to undermine down-ballot candidates seen as threats to China’s core interests. This occurred in some midterm races in 2022, involving members of both political parties.
China-affiliated influence actors continue to use social media to create division in the US and portray democracies as chaotic, officials noted.
Read the ODNI election report here.
