US Embassy accused of political interference with $500,000 grant scheme
Critics argue the funding, which prioritises ‘limited government’ and ‘freedom of speech’, seeks to persuade the British public to align with specific US foreign policy positions, including backing Israel.
The US Embassy in London has faced accusations of interfering in British domestic politics after publishing documents for a $500,000 grant scheme titled “Liberty Under Law: The Shared Anglo-American Tradition”. The funding, aimed at public education programmes celebrating “freedom of speech” and “limited government”, was criticised by Liberal Democrat MP Lisa Smart as an attempt to export “Maga propaganda” and meddle in UK democracy. While the embassy stated the initiative aims to strengthen US-UK ties and deepen understanding of constitutional principles, critics, including senior Trump officials’ allies and former US state department officials, argued the language reflects a narrow “America First” agenda and seeks to persuade the British public to support specific US policies, such as backing Israel’s right to defend itself.
The grant scheme invites charities and non-profit organisations to apply for funding for “innovative, high-visibility public education and civic-engagement programs” that deepen understanding of the shared Anglo-American common law tradition. The initiative coincides with the upcoming 70th anniversary of the American Bar Association’s (ABA) unveiling of the Magna Carta memorial at Runnymede. Priority will be given to projects that connect foundational principles, such as due process, property rights, and taxation by consent, to contemporary civic life, with a requirement to demonstrate measurable impact on public discourse and democratic norms.
Lisa Smart, the Liberal Democrat Cabinet Office spokesperson, condemned the grants as an attempt to meddle in UK democracy. She stated, “We have a proud tradition of liberty and freedom of speech in this country and we don’t need Trump’s Maga money meddling in our democracy.” Smart added that while the Magna Carta aimed to limit the powers of tyrants, the current US administration has shown “utter contempt” for the rule of law.
Concerns have also been raised by former US State Department officials regarding the language used in the grant notices. One official described the shift from “increasing understanding of US policy” to openly seeking to “persuade people to agree with US policy” as highly unusual. The official noted that the language reflects a narrow “America First” agenda and accused the US government of trying to create UK-originated narratives to support “Maga propaganda”. Another former official described the goal of securing UK support for Israel’s right to defend itself as “weird” and unprecedented in its directness.
In response, a US Embassy spokesperson defended the initiative, stating it aims to strengthen US-UK ties and deepen public understanding of constitutional principles. The spokesperson also noted that the Embassy has discontinued Biden-era public diplomacy spending on projects such as ‘climate justice’ and ‘LGBTQ activism’, claiming these had not previously raised complaints. The American Bar Association, which is not involved in the grant scheme, is currently suing the Trump administration over alleged intimidation of lawyers and legal firms. European legal bodies, including the Law Society and the Bar Association in Britain, have voiced support for US lawyers, drawing parallels between the administration’s attacks on law firms and events in Nazi Germany.
