Rep. Luna Advocates for Disclosure of Foreign Payments to Influencers

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna from Florida is urging Americans to pay more attention to the often murky dealings of online influencers who receive payments from foreign governments to disseminate propaganda online.

On Monday, Luna submitted a brief, two-page bill aimed at modifying the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) from 1938. The proposal seeks to add “social media influencers” to the definition of “publicity agent.” This bipartisan effort includes support from Democratic Reps. Jared Moskowitz of Florida and Vicente Gonzalez of Texas, as well as Republican Rep. Derrick Van Orden of Wisconsin.

“Americans should be aware when individuals influencing online conversations are doing so for foreign interests,” Luna stated. “The Foreign Propaganda Disclosure Act aims to shed light on these foreign-backed influence operations and reinforces that our public discourse shouldn’t be up for sale.”

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna wants to crack down on the world of foreign money flowing through America’s political influencer economy.

She tells our @wsteaks about her bill that would require influencers to disclose when they’re being paid by a foreign government to push political… pic.twitter.com/a9hbNFpigs

— POLITICO (@politico) August 24, 2026

Named the Foreign Propaganda Disclosure Act, the amendment provides a definition for “social media influencer” as anyone with a monetized account on a social media platform and includes the already established federal legal definition of “social media platform.”

According to Politico Playbook, Luna’s initiative is seen as a “crack down.” However, Nicole Kelly, a lawyer from Lex Politica who works with clients on FARA registration, mentioned that the current FARA already encompasses influencers.

“While Rep. Luna’s proposal addresses a notable oversight, existing laws cover much of the same ground,” she remarked. “FARA presently mandates registration for anyone, including influencers, who engage in political or public relations actions on behalf of a foreign party — so similar findings could already invoke disclosure requirements under current regulations.”

Nonetheless, Kelly acknowledged that Luna’s amendment “signals growing momentum in Washington for clarity around foreign influence in our political landscape.”

Recently, MAGA and right-wing influencers have been embroiled in intense online disputes regarding both foreign and domestic entities that allegedly aim to leverage influencers to apply pressure and shape government policies.

Luna suggested that several prominent figures in the political influencer domain “have, at various points, been approached to advocate for positions potentially linked to foreign nations.”

“I know quite a few of those individuals,” she told Politico, “but I won’t name anyone. That’s really not my intention.”

She further noted, “I’ve come across contracts worth millions.”

A report from June identified a number of MAGA influencers, including C.J. Pearson, Rob Smith, Arynne Wexler, Emily Wilson, and Ryan Fournier, who have faced allegations related to accepting payments from foreign sources. The Daily Mail indicated that the White House has started to keep an eye on indications that influencers may be influenced financially by various lobbies.

Reports from Responsible Statecraft and Time Magazine have also brought attention to Brad Parscale, who was involved in Donald Trump’s previous campaigns and is currently a registered foreign agent for the Israeli government.

In addition to his alleged connections with influencer firms, Parscale serves as the chief strategy officer for Salem Media Group, which operates 117 radio stations across 38 markets as well as conservative news websites such as Townhall, RedState, Hot Air, and PJ Media.

Alex Bruesewitz, a Trump associate and former advisor on the 2024 campaign, has consistently warned that special interest groups and foreign entities are incentivizing right-wing and MAGA influencers to manipulate Trump’s supporters and obstruct the administration’s initiatives.

“If you’re paid to endorse a swimsuit, you must label it as a ‘paid partnership.’ But if you’re compensated to urge the president to lift tariffs on India, there’s no requirement for disclosure,” he mentioned to Politico. “The American public has a right to know when their favorite social media personalities are promoting content that is funded by foreign interests.”

A group of lawmakers from both parties also proposed the Preventing Adversary Influence, Disinformation and Obscured Foreign Financing, or PAID OFF Act, intended to revise FARA to close various gaps in oversight in 2025. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee recommended further consideration of the bill in June.

In that same year, Republican Rep. August Pfluger from Texas put forward similar legislation in the House, although it has since stalled as well.

Luna’s office has not yet responded to inquiries for comments.