Darren Beattie Appointed Acting President of U.S. Institute of Peace

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Darren Beattie, currently serving as the acting Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy at the U.S. State Department, has been appointed acting president of the United States Institute of Peace (USIP). The decision was made by the USIP board of directors, according to a senior State Department official. Beattie will retain his current post while assuming leadership of the institute.

The USIP was established in 1984 as an independent, nonpartisan organization by Congress to support global peacebuilding efforts through research, training, and conflict resolution. Despite its origins under President Ronald Reagan, the institute has faced criticism in recent years for straying from its original mandate and drifting into ideological territory. The latest appointment signals a course correction, aligning leadership with a stronger America First worldview.

Beattie first made headlines in 2018 when he was dismissed from his White House speechwriting role during President Donald Trump’s first term. His removal came after CNN reported that he had spoken at a 2016 conference organized by the H.L. Mencken Club, a group that has previously hosted controversial figures. At the time, Beattie defended his speech as academic, stating it did not include any objectionable content.

Since leaving the White House, Beattie launched Revolver News, a media outlet known for its sharp criticism of the political establishment and its support for populist movements. The site has gained attention for challenging prevailing narratives about the January 6 Capitol incident and questioning the role of federal agencies in the unrest.

In recent months, Beattie has remained unapologetic about his views and has expressed strong support for Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the broader America First agenda. When questioned earlier this year by CNN about his past remarks regarding Rubio, which included deleted tweets, Beattie responded: “Secretary Rubio is 100 percent America First, and it’s a tremendous honor to work for him in advancing President Trump’s world historical agenda.”

The announcement has not gone without criticism. George Foote, former legal counsel for USIP and current representative for employees who were dismissed during recent restructuring efforts, condemned the appointment. In a statement provided to CNN, Foote said, “The announced appointment of Darren Beattie as the President of the U.S. Institute of Peace flies in the face of the values at the core of USIP’s work and America’s commitment to working respectfully with international partners.”

Foote referenced USIP’s legacy of serving as a neutral platform for conflict resolution and voiced concern over recent terminations following legal challenges to the Trump administration’s efforts to reform the agency. Though a federal judge had previously ruled the removal of the USIP board unlawful, a federal appeals court recently paused that decision, allowing for a second wave of dismissals.

Beattie steps into his new role as the Trump administration pushes forward with its broader initiative to streamline and refocus parts of the federal government. His appointment underscores a continued emphasis on realigning foreign policy efforts to better serve American interests, particularly through cultural diplomacy and a commitment to free speech.