On 1 April 2025, The Conversation reported that Russian ultra-nationalist ideologue Aleksandr Dugin has publicly endorsed Donald Trump’s policies in a recent CNN interview. The article begins:
Aleksandr Dugin, sometimes referred to as “Putin’s brain” because of his ideological influence on Russian politics, endorsed the policies of Donald Trump in a CNN interview aired on March 30. Dugin said Trump’s America has a lot more in common with Putin’s Russia than most people think, adding: “Trumpists and the followers of Trump will understand much better what Russia is, who Putin is and the motivations of our politics.” Dugin made his name by espousing Russian nationalist and traditionalist – including antisemitic – themes, and publishing extensively on the centrality of Russia in world civilisation. So, this endorsement should be a warning of the disruptive nature of the Trump White House. It implies that Dugin believes Trump’s policies support Russian interests. Dugin began his career as an anti-communist activist in the 1980s. This was less because of an ideological antipathy for communism than his rejection of the internationalism that the Communist Party of the Soviet Union espoused…
Key Points:
- Dugin claims Trump supporters will better understand Russia and Putin, suggesting alignment between Trump’s policies and Russian interests.
- Known as “Putin’s brain,” Dugin promotes a “fourth political theory” combining elements from Marxism, fascism, and liberalism while emphasizing traditional values.
- The Kremlin leverages Dugin to promote Russian nationalism abroad and support divisive political movements in Western countries.
- Dugin’s CNN interview endorsement likely received Kremlin authorization as part of Russia’s strategy to emphasize political divisions in adversary nations.
Alexander Dugin’s Role in Russia’s Hybrid Warfare and Global Influence Campaigns
Alexander Dugin, the controversial Russian ideologue often referred to as “Putin’s brain,” orchestrates key elements of Russia’s hybrid warfare strategy by blending ultranationalist ideology with global influence operations. His recent endorsement of Donald Trump during a CNN interview demonstrates efforts to align Trumpist movements with Russian objectives, suggesting they will “understand much better what Russia is, who Putin is and the motivations of our politics.” Dugin’s daughter, Darya Dugina, amplified Russian influence operations as chief editor of United World International, a propaganda platform sanctioned by the US Treasury for election interference and promoting narratives that Ukraine would “perish” if admitted to NATO. His philosophy, detailed in his “Fourth Political Theory”, rejects liberalism while envisioning Russia as the center of a Eurasian empire opposing Western influence. Dugin’s meeting with Iran’s ambassador to discuss “opposition to unilateralism by the United States” and “the fight against international imperialism” underscores his role in forging anti-Western alliances, while his involvement with the International Movement of Russophiles, launched in 2023, demonstrates institutionalized efforts to recruit global supporters under the guise of cultural conservatism, with figures like Steven Seagal promoting pro-Kremlin narratives.
External References
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The Imperialist Philosopher Who Demanded the Ukraine War — The New Yorker
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Russia’s Real Strongman: Konstantin Malofeyev’s Push for Nuclear War — Business Insider
Disclaimer: The GIOR utilizes AI to generate summaries of news items, including the introduction and the key points that follow. Any text following the key points is context added by GIOR editors. Please verify all information before using. Images are also AI-generated and are for illustrative purposes only—they are meant to represent the events or individuals concerned but should not be understood as “real-world” photography.
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