The term “useful idiot” was first used to refer to Soviet sympathizers, i.e., commies, in Western countries who naïvely thought of themselves as an ally of the Soviet Union, but were actually held in contempt and were being cynically used.
The use of the term in political discourse has since been extended to all who unwittingly support a malignant cause whose goals they are not fully aware of, and which they naïvely believe to be a force for good. The leaders of the cause cynically use the useful idiots to gain power and achieve their malignant goals, after which, the idiots will be tossed aside.
H/t FOTM’s Wild Bill Alaska for the pic.
~Eowyn
