Vilnius Disinformation Conference Loses Sponsorship Under Trump Administration Pressure
Following a panel at the #Disinfo2026 conference in Lithuania that addressed the US as a threat, the Trump administration exerted diplomatic pressure.
In line with demands from the Trump administration, the main supporters of the European disinformation conference held in Vilnius withdrew their backing, with Lithuania, Canada, and the European Union's diplomatic service removing their logos.
Conference and Sponsorship Crisis
The #Disinfo2026 conference in Vilnius, the annual gathering of Europe's disinformation-fighting community, faced a major diplomatic crisis.
Rapid Removal of Logos
Days before the conference, the logos of the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the European External Action Service, and Global Affairs Canada were deleted from the website.
US State Department Contacts
Sources, including European officials, confirmed that the US State Department had contacted multiple governments regarding the support given to the conference.
Controversial Panel Program
It was noted that Washington was particularly discomforted by a panel program that addressed the US as a foreign information manipulation threat, triggering lobbying efforts.
Official Statements from Institutions
Lithuania, Canada, and the European Union defended the decision, stating that the conference program did not align with official views regarding the US's role in disinformation.
France Continues Its Support
Following these developments, the French government publicly announced that it would maintain its support for the disinformation conference in Vilnius.