In a controversial move that has sparked fierce debate across political and media circles, President Donald J. Trump announced today that he would eliminate federal funding for National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), calling them “an enemy of the people” and accusing both organizations of spreading what he described as “left-wing propaganda.”
The decision was made public during a speech at a political rally, where Trump sharply criticized what he called “taxpayer-funded fake news,” and claimed that both NPR and PBS have “abused their platforms for decades to mislead, manipulate, and indoctrinate the American public.”
“It’s time to stop funding the lies. American taxpayers should not be forced to bankroll networks that hate America,” Trump declared to a crowd of supporters.
Federal funding for public broadcasting makes up a small portion of NPR and PBS budgets—approximately 2-5%—but advocates warn that the cut could be devastating for local stations, particularly in rural communities where public broadcasting is often a crucial source of education and information.
“We are deeply concerned by this politically motivated action. Our mission has always been to serve the American people with trusted, fact-based journalism, educational programming, and cultural enrichment. Public broadcasting plays a vital role in a healthy democracy and in underserved areas across the nation.”
Media watchdog groups and press freedom organizations have also condemned the move, warning of its potential chilling effect on independent journalism.
The decision has reignited the debate over press freedom and the role of public broadcasting in American society. Lawmakers on Capitol Hill are divided, with many Democrats pledging to fight the funding cuts in Congress, while some Republicans applauded the move as a step toward reducing government spending and eliminating bias in the media.