Washington D.C. – The U.S. State Department is removing all public posts from its X (formerly Twitter) accounts dating back to before , the date President Trump resumed office. The move, confirmed by the department, will see the content internally archived but removed from public view, requiring Freedom of Information Act requests for access, a departure from standard government archiving practices.
The decision, first reported by NPR, comes amidst a broader pattern of information control within the Trump administration. Since returning to power, the administration has systematically removed data from government websites that contradicts the president’s views, encompassing areas such as environmental science, public health, and representation of minority groups. This includes the removal of signage at national parks referencing slavery and alterations to exhibits at the National Portrait Gallery concerning Trump’s impeachments and presidency.
According to a State Department spokesperson, the aim of the X post removal is “to limit confusion on U.S. Government policy and to speak with one voice to advance the President, Secretary, and Administration’s goals and messaging.” The spokesperson further stated that the department’s X accounts are “one of our most powerful tools for advancing the America First goals and messaging of the President, Secretary, and Administration, both to our fellow Americans and audiences around the world.”
The scope of the directive extends to all official State Department X accounts, including those of U.S. Embassies, ambassadors, and various bureaus and programs. These accounts have historically been used to disseminate policy announcements, diplomatic updates, travel advisories, and cultural programming, providing a public record of U.S. Engagement worldwide.
Orna Blum, a retired senior foreign service officer and public diplomacy specialist, expressed concern over the implications of the policy. In a LinkedIn post, Blum noted that the removed posts include “embassies’ July 4 livestreams, photos of COVID vaccine donations to other nations, holiday greetings, condolences, cultural programming, and the day-to-day record of diplomacy.” She argued that while the Freedom of Information Act provides a potential avenue for access, it is a “backstop—not a substitute for open archives.”
The move raises questions about transparency and historical record-keeping. While previous administrations have transitioned social media accounts, content typically remained publicly visible. The current approach represents a significant shift, potentially obscuring the evolution of U.S. Foreign policy and diplomatic interactions.
The State Department has not responded to inquiries regarding whether similar removals will occur on other social media platforms or whether alternative methods for accessing the archived posts will be established. The department did confirm that all archived content will be preserved in accordance with Federal Record Act requirements and departmental policies.
This action follows a similar, though separate, incident earlier this week involving the Central Intelligence Agency’s abrupt removal of its World Factbook, a long-standing and widely-used reference resource. The CIA offered no explanation for the decision, simply stating the publication was being “sunset.”
The State Department’s decision also echoes recent actions taken by the mayor of New York City, Zohran Mamdani, who began deleting posts from his predecessor’s account on X. However, unlike the State Department’s approach, New York City maintains a public archive of the deleted content.
The broader context of these actions points to a deliberate strategy of controlling the narrative and shaping public perception. The Trump administration has demonstrated a willingness to utilize social media as a direct communication channel, often bypassing traditional media outlets. This approach has been accompanied by instances of government accounts sharing content containing white supremacist rhetoric and conspiracy theories, as highlighted by recent reports concerning the Department of Homeland Security and other agencies.
Just days before the State Department announcement, President Trump faced criticism for sharing a video on his social media platform containing false claims of election fraud and a racially charged depiction of former President and First Lady Obama. The post was subsequently deleted following backlash, even from within his own party.
The removal of historical X posts by the State Department, while seemingly a minor procedural change, underscores a larger trend of information management and control within the current administration. It raises concerns about the accessibility of government records and the potential for a revisionist portrayal of U.S. Foreign policy and diplomatic history.
