US Commissioner Leads First Official Delegation to Russia’s SPIEF 2026

On June 3-4, 2026, Rodney Mims Cook Jr., the Trump-appointed chair of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, traveled to St. Petersburg to attend the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF). Cook’s presence marked the first U.S. official delegation to the forum since 2017. He joined a panel on “Russia–US: A Cultural Dialogue” and was accompanied by conservative podcaster Candace Owens, actor Steven Seagal and internet personality Andrew Tate, whose official status was not confirmed. The event unfolded hours after drone strikes hit St. Petersburg.

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SPIEF, promoted as “Putin’s answer to Davos,” has seen Western attendance fall after the 2014 Crimea annexation and the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The 2026 forum emphasized Russia’s eastward shift, featuring Saudi Arabia’s energy minister as guest of honor and Chinese Vice President Han Zheng leading a large delegation.

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Cook oversees White House renovation projects, including a 250-foot “triumphal arch.” Owens criticized U.S. aid to Ukraine; Seagal, a Russian-citizen actor, called stronger ties his “dream.”

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Cook told Russian media he had permission from Trump and the State Department to travel. The Kremlin called him the leader of the first U.S. delegation in years. Secretary Rubio, in a Senate hearing, said, “I am not aware of an official delegation attending.” Russian spokesperson Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on any meeting between President Putin and the American guests.

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Candace Owens criticized U.S. aid to Ukraine, saying Americans are growing weary of funding without clear outcomes. Robert Agee warned that mistrust and misunderstanding between the two nations have reached a record high despite ongoing business talks.

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The 2026 SPIEF was the first U.S. official delegation since 2017. Saudi Arabia’s energy minister was guest of honor; Chinese Vice President Han Zheng arrived with a large delegation. Russia’s “shared values visa,” launched in August 2024, targets Western migrants aligned with Russian cultural policies, with a 450-person settlement planned in Nizhny Novgorod.

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The Kremlin’s claim of an official U.S. delegation conflicts with Rubio’s statement of unawareness. It remains unclear whether Owens, Seagal and Tate were formal delegates or attended independently. The forum’s agenda omitted any discussion of the ongoing Ukraine war, leaving a gap in public discourse.

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• “I’ve been treated again in St. Petersburg with great warmth. Many in this room are personal friends over decades, I’m here to listen and to learn,” — Rodney Mims Cook Jr., Chairman, U.S. Commission of Fine Arts

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• “Americans are getting tired of funding and not knowing where the money is going.” — Candace Owens, Podcaster

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Russia and the United States plan a joint ice-hockey exhibition in Moscow on July 1, 2026, marking the U.S. 250th anniversary. Further business talks under the “shared values visa” are slated for later in the year.

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