Trump Authorized CIA Covert Operation to Discredit Chinese Government on Social Media

The 2019 operation aimed at creating distrust among China's leadership and forcing the government to counter misinformation.

Then-President Donald Trump authorized a CIA operation in 2019 to discredit the Chinese government on social media, using fake accounts to spread negative narratives.
The operation aimed to create distrust among China's top leadership and force the government to allocate resources to counter the alleged misinformation.
The CIA's covert campaign was part of Trump's tougher stance on China, marking a return to Cold War-era methods.
It remains unclear whether the Biden administration has continued the CIA program, which carried significant risks of escalating tensions with China.
The operation targeted public opinion not only in China but also in Southeast Asia, Africa, and the South Pacific, where the U.S. and China compete for influence.