Trump State Dept Official Ended Russia Disinfo Unit Married to Kremlin-Linked Russian

Darren Beattie, acting undersecretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs under President Donald Trump, has sparked controversy for dismantling the U.S. government's Russian disinformation unit amid his openly pro-Russian views. Beattie is married to Yulia Kirillova, a Russian woman whose uncle, Sergei Chernikov, is closely linked to the Kremlin, having held various political roles and received personal thanks from Vladimir Putin. Prior to his 2025 appointment, Beattie made social media posts advocating infiltration of Western institutions by Putin and criticized what he called the 'globalist American empire,' while also expressing support for China’s claims over Taiwan and disparaging allied nations like Britain. His past includes being fired from the Trump administration in 2018 for attending a white nationalist conference and promoting controversial views on race and governance. There are also concerns about whether Beattie underwent proper security vetting, as the process has been relaxed under Trump’s administration. Beattie's actions and affiliations have raised alarms within the State Department and among lawmakers urging a firmer U.S. stance on Russia amid ongoing conflict in Ukraine.