Samuel Samson, 27, was reportedly “at the forefront of President Trump’s efforts to reshape US relations with Europe.” As a senior advisor at the State Department, he aimed to strengthen Washington’s ties with far-right European figures.
Results have been limited so far, with the center-left daily noting that Marine Le Pen is still unable to run for president. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, supported by Samson, recently lost power at the polls. Some European far-right politicians now see association with Trump as a liability.
However, Samson embodies the Trump administration’s stance towards Europe, according to the New York Times. He was a prominent figure in attempting to intimidate European leaders. Despite Sarah Rogers taking on a more significant role at the State Department, the message remains largely the same.
Of Filipino descent, Samson has been religious since childhood and has been a vocal conservative since high school. This led him to Washington and close to J.D. Vance, the current vice president. His appointment at the State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor was a result of this path.
Samson is determined to combat what he sees as attacks on freedom of speech, particularly in Europe. He took aim at the Digital Services Act, disliked by American conservatives. Samson even met with the director of Reporters Without Borders to discuss this issue, where it was recalled that he commented on France turning into “North Korea.”
