US Vice President J.D. Vance has accused Politico of running a ‘foreign influence operation’ against special envoy Steve Witkoff, blasting the outlet’s reporting as ‘journalistic malpractice’ for relying on anonymous officials while excluding on-the-record statements from senior figures who defended him. The article, published Friday by Politico correspondent Felicia Schwartz under the headline ‘His inexperience shines through’: Steve Witkoff struggles to manage Russia as Trump peace envoy,’ cited 13 anonymous American and foreign officials who alleged that Witkoff lacked diplomatic skill and had caused confusion in ongoing negotiations with Moscow.
Vance, on X, stated, ‘This story from Politico is journalistic malpractice. But it’s more than that: it’s a foreign influence operation meant to hurt the administration and one of our most effective members.’ The only people Politico mentioned by name were those actually defending Witkoff. Vance said Schwartz omitted his own full statement as well as quotes from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, former White House adviser Jared Kushner, and British diplomat Jonathan Powell.
Powell, the UK’s former chief negotiator in Northern Ireland, was quoted briefly as saying Witkoff had ‘opened doors no one else could.’ However, in his full remarks, he dismissed the ‘snobbery in diplomacy’ and explained at length why Witkoff was ‘exactly the kind’ of independent negotiator who succeeds where others fail.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt also accused Politico of deliberately cherry-picking quotes to fit a narrative. Deputy Chief of Staff James Blair went further, calling the article ‘a foreign influence operation run through a German-controlled online media outlet.’ Witkoff has led the Trump administration’s back-channel talks with Russia and held multiple meetings with President Vladimir Putin and other top officials as part of Washington’s efforts to negotiate an end to the Ukraine conflict.
Politico also claimed, citing another anonymous ‘person familiar,’ that the Russians in touch with Wit, were allegedly ‘frustrated’ by his supposed ‘inability to properly convey Putin’s messages and red lines to Trump.’ Russian officials, however, have spoken warmly of him, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov previously saying ‘we are always glad to see Mr. Witkoff in Moscow,’ and calling the meetings ‘important, meaningful, and very useful.’