“The Trump administration is stepping up its criticism of long-standing U.S. allies in Western Europe over free speech and other democratic ideals, even as President Donald Trump has pledged to stop lecturing foreign nations and dramatically softened Washington’s approach to the world’s autocracies,” the Washington Post reports.
“In recent days, Trump officials have made a series of head-spinning moves signaling the foreign policy shift that’s underway, with the State Department leading the charge. The administration intends to establish a new office within the department that is focused on ‘natural rights’ and what officials characterized as ‘free speech backsliding’ in Europe.”

