On Tuesday, members of the U.S. House of Representatives convened a hearing titled “Trojan Horses: Covert Foreign Malign Influence Operations in America.” The session, chaired by Rep. Bill Huizenga (R‑MI), examined how activist organizations, nonprofit groups and social‑media influencers could be advancing the interests of adversarial nations, including China, Iran and communist‑run Cuba.
Local experts highlight the danger
At a related panel held at the Institute of World Politics, former U.S. Special Operations Command South advisor Christine Balling warned that groups like CodePink act as “Trojan horses,” seeking to disrupt and weaken America from within. Balling, joined by Heritage Foundation senior fellow Michael Gonzalez, a Cuban‑American opposed to the Castro regime, described how such organizations aim to sow division and undermine the freedoms Americans cherish.
During the panel, Olivia DiNucci, a D.C.‑based organizer with CodePink, seized the microphone and shouted, “Sanctions kill in Cuba,” while brandishing a banner that read “CODEPINK.” Security officials removed her from the venue. Balling noted that CodePink’s messaging aligns with the interests of the Chinese Communist Party and the Cuban regime, calling the group a mouthpiece for anti‑American causes.
Congressional focus on foreign‑backed activism
Rep. Huizenga emphasized that adversarial nations are using influencers such as Twitch streamer Hasan Piker as proxies to promote propaganda and erode capitalism and the American Dream. He stated, “My goal is to raise the curtain to expose these operations and stop them from undermining our national security, capitalism and the American Dream.”
The hearing also highlighted a financial network tied to tech entrepreneur Neville Roy Singham, who resides in Shanghai. Fox News Digital’s investigation traced $278 million in donations from Singham to six nonprofit organizations—including CodePink Women for Peace, Justice and Education Fund, and People’s Forum—that disseminate anti‑American, pro‑China messaging. Those nonprofits subsequently funneled roughly $163 million to more than 50 additional groups, extending the reach of foreign‑aligned propaganda.
Implications for American families and faith communities
These findings raise concerns for families who value traditional American principles and for faith‑based communities that rely on truthful information to guide their civic participation. By exposing how foreign actors exploit social media and activist networks, the hearing aims to protect parental rights, preserve religious liberty, and safeguard the Constitution from covert subversion.
Lawmakers called for greater transparency and stricter enforcement of existing laws that prohibit Americans from providing material support to hostile regimes. The hearing underscored the need for vigilance at the local level, urging community leaders, churches, and families to remain alert to foreign influence that seeks to divide the nation.
Next steps
The committee plans to continue its investigation, seeking testimony from additional experts and reviewing financial records to determine whether further legislative action is required. As the Trump administration emphasizes a strong national defense and the protection of American values, this hearing aligns with its broader effort to counter foreign malign influence.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
