Donald Trump gets online support as he calls for defunding 'propaganda machine' NPR over liberal bias

PALM BEACH, FLORIDA: Former President Donald Trump has called for the defunding of NPR (National Public Radio) following claims of biased reporting against him.

The controversy was sparked by an essay penned by veteran NPR senior business editor Uri Berliner and published in The Free Press. Berliner's exposé alleged a pervasive liberal bias within NPR, particularly in its coverage of Trump's presidency.

Trump calls for defunding NPR

According to Berliner, NPR journalists were driven by a fervent desire to "damage or topple" Trump's administration, with the narrative of collusion between Trump and Russia dominating their reporting.

Berliner's essay detailed NPR's alleged shift from fair coverage to a concerted effort to "damage or topple" Trump's presidency. He pointed to the network's extensive coverage of the Russia collusion narrative, which he claimed was fueled by a desire to align with Trump's critics, notably Representative Adam Schiff.

"We hitched our wagon to Trump’s most visible antagonist," Berliner said of Schiff, a vocal opponent of Trump who was frequently featured in NPR interviews, shaping the network's narrative on the issue.

Responding to Berliner's revelations, Trump took to his Truth Social platform to demand an end to public funding for NPR. Trump paraphrased Berliner's claims, accusing NPR of being a "liberal disinformation machine" focused solely on "damaging Trump."

"NO MORE FUNDING FOR NPR, A TOTAL SCAM! EDITOR SAID THEY HAVE NO REPUBLICANS, AND IS ONLY USED TO ‘DAMAGE TRUMP.’ THEY ARE A LIBERAL DISINFORMATION MACHINE. NOT ONE DOLLAR!!!" he fumed.

NPR, established by an act of Congress, receives a portion of its funding from federal grants. However, the bulk of its budget comes from member fees and donations.

While federal funding constitutes a relatively small percentage, NPR contends that it is essential for maintaining its public service mission. The elimination of federal funding could jeopardize NPR's ability to deliver programs and support local journalism, particularly in underserved communities.

NPR accused of 'truth-impaired' reporting aimed to topple Trump's presidency

According to Berliner's analysis, however, NPR underwent a significant transformation following Trump's rise to power.

"Like many unfortunate things, the rise of advocacy took off with Donald Trump. As in many newsrooms, his election in 2016 was greeted at NPR with a mixture of disbelief, anger, and despair. (Just to note, I eagerly voted against Trump twice but felt we were obliged to cover him fairly.)," he wrote. "But what began as tough, straightforward coverage of a belligerent, truth-impaired president veered toward efforts to damage or topple Trump’s presidency."

Berliner criticized NPR for its relentless focus on allegations of collusion between Trump and Russia, even after the Mueller investigation failed to provide conclusive evidence. He highlighted NPR's extensive interviews with Schiff, a prominent figure in pushing the Russia collusion narrative.

"Schiff, who was the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, became NPR’s guiding hand, its ever-present muse," Berliner recalled. "The Schiff talking points became the drumbeat of NPR news reports."

Berliner continued, "But when the Robert Mueller report found no credible evidence of collusion, NPR’s coverage was notably sparse. Russiagate quietly faded from our programming."

In his essay, the editor acknowledged NPR's reliance on federal funding but cautioned against defunding as a solution.

"Despite our missteps at NPR, defunding isn’t the answer. As the country becomes more fractured, there’s still a need for a public institution where stories are told and viewpoints exchanged in good faith," he wrote. "Defunding, as a rebuke from Congress, wouldn’t change the journalism at NPR. That needs to come from within."

Internet supports Trump's call to defund NPR 

Despite Berliner's defense, Trump's call to defund NPR resonated with many on social media, who echoed his concerns about bias and questioned the justification for taxpayer funding of a purportedly partisan organization.

"Yep! They are just a propaganda machine for the liberals!" one posted on X.

"For years. Have no idea why we fund them," another wrote.

"100%!!!! Why is every American on the hook for funding something that ONLY works for Democrats--and only HIRES Democrats????" someone else fumed.

"It’s obsolete and should have been self funded decades ago. But now would be a good time," a comment read.

"It’s 2024. Anyone that can’t access information isn’t interested. There just isn’t any justification for taxpayers to pay for information distribution any longer," another chimed in.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.