Trump Demands Congress Defund NPR and PBS ‘IMMEDIATELY’

In a late-night online tirade, former President Donald Trump reignited his long-standing war on public media, calling on Congress to “IMMEDIATELY” strip all federal funding from National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS).

“Republicans, don’t miss this opportunity to rid our Country of this giant SCAM,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Both are arms of the Radical Left Democrat Party.”

The post was classic Trump: bombastic, conspiratorial, and aimed squarely at the institutions conservatives have long painted as liberal propaganda outlets. But critics say this is less about budgets and more about silencing independent journalism.

A Pattern of Retaliation

This isn’t the first time Trump has gone after public broadcasters. His administration repeatedly proposed eliminating their funding entirely. Now, from the campaign trail, he’s again rallying his base with a familiar target.

The irony? PBS and NPR combined receive only a sliver of their funding from the federal government—about 15% on average. For most Americans, that costs just $1.50 per year.

“It’s political theater, plain and simple,” said Dr. Alicia Monroe, a media policy expert at Georgetown. “This is about power and control over narratives, not about fiscal responsibility.”

Republicans Take the Stage—Literally

Just hours before Trump’s rant, House Republicans took their own shot at public media. In a hearing orchestrated by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), the House Subcommittee on Digital Oversight, Government Ethics—or “DOGE” as it’s been mockingly dubbed—grilled PBS and NPR executives over alleged liberal bias.

Greene focused much of her time attacking a PBS children’s segment featuring drag performer Lil Miss Hot Mess reading a book to kids.

“She’s a monster, a child predator,” Greene claimed, referring to the performer whose real name is Harris Kornstein.

Kornstein clapped back in a statement to the Daily Beast: “While she claims to promote liberty, in reality, she just wants to tell us all what to think and do. That’s not freedom. That’s fascism.”

Democrats Fire Back

Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) didn’t hold back in her defense of public media—or her rebuke of the hearing itself.

“You want to shut down everybody that is not Fox News,” she said, glaring at Greene across the committee room. “That’s bulls–t, and we all know it. Free speech doesn’t mean only what MAGA wants to hear.”

Crockett’s defense echoes what many Democrats—and a majority of Americans—believe: that public broadcasting is a vital and trusted institution.

According to a 2024 YouGov poll, PBS ranks as the third-most trusted news source in the country, trailing only the Weather Channel and the BBC. And a new Pew survey found that only 24% of Americans support cutting funding for public broadcasting. Even among Republicans, it’s a minority position.

A Legacy Worth Defending

Since its creation in 1967 under President Lyndon B. Johnson, public broadcasting has been a cornerstone of civic education, culture, and access to non-commercial media. From Sesame Street and Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood to Masterpiece Theater and Frontline, PBS and NPR have long provided high-quality, fact-based programming.

“These outlets are one of the few places where facts still matter,” said Sheila Matthews, a retired school principal in Des Moines. “If Trump wants to kill that off, people should be asking: What does he want to replace it with?”

More Than a Distraction?

Critics also point to the timing of Trump’s online rampage. While the GOP fixates on public media, other headlines loom—including the bizarre revelation this week that Trump was excluded from a Signal group chat among U.S. officials reportedly discussing potential military strikes in Yemen.

The White House declined to comment, but national security circles are abuzz.

“Trump’s attention is on Big Bird while the Pentagon might be plotting airstrikes behind his back,” quipped one Democratic strategist. “That’s the real story here.”

As the campaign heats up, Trump’s war on PBS and NPR may fire up his base—but it also highlights the deeper culture war gripping the nation: one where facts, education, and public trust are all up for grabs.