Rubio tells US outposts to stay out of foreign elections without 'clear and compelling' US interests

Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday directed overseas outposts to refrain from weighing in on foreign elections unless there is a "clear and compelling" U.S. interest in doing so.

The order is intended to bring the department more in line with the White House and Trump administration's stance on foreign elections. It comes after President Donald Trump announced during a speech in May that the U.S. would not tell other countries how to manage their domestic affairs.

The directive claims that U.S. consulates and embassies can still congratulate the winner of a foreign election, but should not criticize an election without approval from a senior official, which would rarely be granted, Fox News reported.

"Consistent with the administration’s emphasis on national sovereignty, the Department will comment publicly on elections only when there is a clear and compelling U.S. foreign policy interest to do so," the memo reads. "Messages should avoid opining on the fairness or integrity of an electoral process, its legitimacy, or the democratic values of the country in question."

U.S. embassy officials are also encouraged to ask themselves whether Trump would make the comment, when drafting their statements, and that messaging on elections should advance U.S. foreign policy goals, according to the memo.

The memo additionally states that the U.S. will "hold firm to its own democratic values and celebrate those values when other countries choose a similar path," but maintain relationships with countries that do not by focusing on common interests instead of values. 

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.