Elon Musk renewed calls to defund NPR following viral footage of its CEO saying “reverence for the truth” might have become a “bit of a distraction.”
“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,” NPR CEO Katherine Maher said.
WATCH:
“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.”
— Katherine Maher (NPR CEO)
pic.twitter.com/nCfDcyPbtH— The Rabbit Hole (@TheRabbitHole84) November 12, 2024
“Should your tax dollars really be paying for an organization run by people who think the truth is a ‘distraction’?” Musk questioned.
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
Fox Business reports:
His dig is the latest in a months-long feud with the broadcasting organization, with Maher at the helm. In April, The Tesla and Space X CEO posted a screenshot of a press inquiry asking Musk what his reaction was to more than 50 NPR accounts leaving X, to which he responded “defund NPR.”
ADVERTISEMENTDays earlier, NPR announced it would be dropping X, then Twitter, over “credibility” concerns after their account was labeled “state-affiliated media.” Twitter later changed the outlet’s label to “government-funded media.”
“We are not putting our journalism on platforms that have demonstrated an interest in undermining our credibility and the public’s understanding of our editorial independence,” NPR said in a statement at the time. “We are turning away from Twitter but not from our audience and communities. There are plenty of ways to stay connected and keep up with NPR’s news, music, and cultural content.”
Musk responded by asking in a separate tweet, “what have you got against the truth @NPR?”
Elon Musk calls for US government to ‘defund NPR’ after outlet quits Twitter https://t.co/yY9pJBkH5L pic.twitter.com/Rg2Yis9QH2
— New York Post (@nypost) April 13, 2023
“NPR has become a hard left propaganda machine that tolerates no dissent,” Musk said earlier this year.
NPR has become a hard left propaganda machine that tolerates no dissent https://t.co/Pcpg1Wubtk
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 16, 2024
“Elon Musk renewed calls to defund NPR after a video of its CEO questioning the importance of truth resurfaced online, sparking new debate about bias at the taxpayer-funded broadcaster,” Fox News wrote.
CALLED OUT: Elon Musk renewed calls to defund NPR after a video of its CEO questioning the importance of truth resurfaced online, sparking new debate about bias at the taxpayer-funded broadcaster. https://t.co/URTcqCqjt9 pic.twitter.com/t8QsVqH8hH
— Fox News (@FoxNews) November 12, 2024
Perhaps NPR will grab the attention of Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy’s newly-announced ‘Department of Government Efficiency‘ (DOGE).
DOGE: President Trump Announces Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy Are Teaming Up!
"We will not go gently, @elonmusk," Ramaswamy said.
We will not go gently, @elonmusk. 🇺🇸 https://t.co/sbVka2vTiW
— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) November 13, 2024
"All actions of the Department of Government Efficiency will be posted online for maximum transparency. Anytime the public thinks we are cutting something important or not cutting something wasteful, just let us know! We will also have a leaderboard for most insanely dumb spending of your tax dollars. This will be both extremely tragic and extremely entertaining," Musk commented.
All actions of the Department of Government Efficiency will be posted online for maximum transparency.
Anytime the public thinks we are cutting something important or not cutting something wasteful, just let us know!
We will also have a leaderboard for most insanely dumb… https://t.co/1c0bAlxmY0
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 13, 2024
Per NPR:
The move by Trump marks another deviation from political tradition in assembling a new administration. It's also a continuation of Trump's relationships with Musk and Ramaswamy, businessmen who are both relatively new to politics but have become close allies of the incoming president.
On the campaign trail, Trump spoke of creating a role in the federal government for Musk, who is the richest man in the world and owns Tesla, SpaceX and the social media platform X.
Musk has become an increasingly influential voice in conservative politics. He first proposed a "government efficiency commission" that would monitor federal agencies during a conversation he had with Trump on X. Since winning the presidential election, Trump and Musk have remained in close orbit.
ADVERTISEMENTThe appointment also brings Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur and former Republican presidential candidate, officially into Trump's administration after he was reported to have once been under consideration for vice president.
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