Elon Musk calls to defund NPR after controversial video of network's CEO emerges

Billionaire Elon Musk sparked a fresh debate over National Public Radio (NPR) funding, calling for its defunding on Tuesday after sharing a video clip featuring NPR CEO Katherine Maher.

In the video, Maher remarked, “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.” Musk shared the clip on X (formerly Twitter), captioning it with, “Should your tax dollars really be paying for an organization run by people who think the truth is a ‘distraction’?”

Following Musk’s post, “Defund NPR” began trending on X, with numerous users joining the call to end taxpayer funding for the organization. Many expressed concerns over NPR's perceived political leanings and questioned its use of public funds. 

One user commented, “It’s time to defund NPR. They’re completely partisan and they have enough viewers they can stand on their own.” Another added, “NPR is nothing more than a leftist rage bait machine; they have turned on America.”

Maher, 41, assumed the role of CEO and president of NPR in March 2024. Before joining NPR, she served as CEO of Web Summit and chaired the board at the Signal Foundation. She was also the executive director of the Wikimedia Foundation.

NPR, headquartered in Washington, D.C., and founded by Congress, operates as a national syndicator to over 1,000 public radio stations across the U.S. Established in 1970 as part of the Public Broadcasting Act, NPR first aired during the Vietnam War, providing Senate hearing coverage. 

Despite its wide audience, NPR’s taxpayer-supported model has recently faced criticism from those who believe it can thrive independently.