Elizabeth Graham, a longtime observer of Russian politics and U.S.-Russia relations, warns that Russia's influence over U.S. elections is not only real but overwhelming. Graham, whose articles have reached 11.7 million readers worldwide, argues that many Americans are overlooking a grave threat as President Trump remakes the U.S. government to mirror the Kremlin.
Graham's unique perspective comes from decades of experience. Her father served undercover with a CIA Top-Secret Clearance, and she followed in his footsteps, living in strategic cities like Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Kiev over twenty years. She met with President Yeltsin, Vice Mayor Putin, and former President Gorbachev, and personally witnessed the USSR's downfall and Putin's rise. She was even invited to join the KGB at least five times, she says.
According to Graham, Putin's plan to undermine the United States is detailed in a 1997 publication, The Foundations of Geopolitics. The plan involves placing a manipulable man in the presidency and infiltrating the country with Russian Organized Crime. Graham points to recent events as evidence: the U.S. stopped supporting Ukraine, withdrew troops from several regions, and shut down USAID—an agency Graham worked with. The closure of USAID could cause 22 million preventable deaths in Africa by 2030, according to Harvard researchers.
Graham asserts that Trump's relationship with Russia is no longer speculation. She highlights the declassified FBI communications that Trump released, which she says are attempts to cover up his ties to Russians. She also notes that Capital One closed roughly 300 bank accounts linked to Trump's businesses due to an anti-money laundering review, suggesting a financial trail leading to Russia.
Graham fears that without intervention, the 2026 election may be America's last free one. She emphasizes that Trump is using the federal government to illegally change election rules in his favor, as he did in 2020. "Many Americans fail to see that Mr. Trump is committing treason—or that Russia wants him in the White House because he is weakening our democracy," Graham said.
The stakes are high, as Graham believes that Russia's influence is part of Putin's Cold War revenge. She draws parallels between the open war in Ukraine and the surreptitious takeover of U.S. institutions. Her message is a call to recognize the threat and act before it's too late.
