Elon Musk calls for shutdown of U.S.-funded media outlets
Elon Musk, head of the American Department of State Efficiency, voiced his support for shutting down Radio Free Europe and Voice of America. Both broadcasters are funded by the U.S. government.
Elon Musk shared his thoughts on the social media platform X, responding to a post by Richard Grenell, the former intelligence chief from President Donald Trump's administration.
Musk on relics of the past
Grenell described Radio Free Europe and Voice of America as "relics of the past," arguing that the U.S. government does not need state media, which he claims are full of "extreme leftist activists."
Musk agreed with this viewpoint, writing: "Yes, shut them down." He also mentioned that Europe, apart from its "suffocating bureaucracy," is already free, and he believes these media outlets have no audience.
Musk also criticized the spending on these institutions, stating: "They're just insane leftists who talk to each other, wasting $1 billion a year of taxpayer money."
The history and operations of the broadcasters
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty was established in 1949 to operate in areas where information flow is restricted. It currently broadcasts in 27 languages across 23 countries, with its headquarters in Prague. On the other hand, Voice of America is a radio and television station that broadcasts in 47 languages and reaches 278 million people weekly.
Both institutions are managed by the U.S. Agency for Global Media. Leading this agency is Brent Bozell, a conservative columnist and activist appointed by President Trump. Bozell is known for his criticism of liberal media.
