Tens of millions of Americans listen to NPR weekly, but the future of its syndication could be in jeopardy under a potential second Trump administration. Elon Musk is renewing calls to defund the media platform after sharing a controversial video of NPR CEO Katherine Maher, who is less than a year into her tenure.
In the video, Maher says, “I think our reverence for the truth might have become a bit of a distraction that is preventing us from finding consensus and getting important things done.”
Should your tax dollars really be paying for an organization run by people who think the truth is a “distraction”? https://t.co/W79tcJJLxu
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 12, 2024
Musk captioned the video with the question: “Should your tax dollars really be paying for an organization run by people who think the truth is a ‘distraction’?”
It’s not the first time this year that calls to defund NPR have surfaced. Maher was asked to testify before Congress about NPR’s alleged political biases but declined due to a scheduling conflict.
Earlier this year, NPR faced controversy when veteran editor Uri Berliner accused the outlet of blatant left-wing bias. Berliner also criticized Maher for having “divisive views” and resigned after 25 years with NPR.
His departure sparked widespread media attention in April, with former President Donald Trump calling for NPR to be defunded, stating, “Not one dollar!”
Fast-forward six months, and Trump is once again president-elect, raising questions about whether the push to defund NPR still holds.
Musk is among several Trump allies questioning whether NPR should continue to receive federal funds. New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, R, whom Trump is tapping for his second administration, also criticized NPR during the election cycle. Stefanik posted on X, accusing a New York NPR affiliate reporter of misleading voters in her district. She ended the post by stating, “I will defund NPR.”
NPR receives funding from donors, sponsors and federal grants established by Congress in 1967. The network’s website warns that eliminating federal funding would result in “fewer programs and less journalism,” and “eventually the loss of public radio stations.”
