New Delhi: Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk and U.S. President Donald Trump have intensified their criticism of legacy media outlets, alleging bias and government funding influence. The duo has been using their respective platforms—X.com (formerly Twitter), owned by Musk, and Truth Social, favored by Trump—to push back against what they call state-backed media narratives.
Their latest target is the renowned news agency Reuters, which Musk accused of accepting $9 million from the Biden administration for what he termed "large-scale social deception."
Reuters Responds to Musk’s Allegations
Reuters denied the allegations, stating that the contract was awarded to Thomson Reuters Special Services (TRSS), a separate division from the core news agency. Tabatha Thompson, a spokesperson for the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), clarified that TRSS was selected to test defensive tools against disinformation.
Despite this response, Musk and Trump continued their campaign, using government spending records from www.usaspending.gov to highlight funding received by major news organizations.
Investigations Target Prominent Media Outlets
Musk’s newly formed U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has been actively investigating media funding, leading to sweeping reviews of government contracts with news agencies.
1. Associated Press (AP)
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Government spending records show that AP received over $500,000 in U.S. federal funding.
- Following the DOGE review, these payments were reportedly terminated.
2. Politico
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Documents reveal that NASA spent $500,000 on Politico subscriptions.
- Following the exposure, NASA canceled these contracts amid questions over the necessity of such expenditures.
- Other government agencies reportedly spent $32 million on Politico over the years.
3. The New York Times (NYT)
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Musk labeled the NYT as "government-funded media" in response to online discussions.
- According to U.S. spending records, the NYT has received $2.6 million in government funding between 2008 and 2024.
4. BBC
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The British news network reportedly received $3.2 million from USAID to fund various programs.
- Official U.S. government records suggest that direct payments to BBC ceased in 2011, but the broadcaster continues to list USAID as a key donor.
5. Internews
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Musk also flagged Internews, a media development organization that trains journalists and promotes press freedom worldwide.
- Records indicate that Internews received $404 million in U.S. government funding since 2008.
- The agency operates in over 100 countries, including India, where it claims to have trained 75,000 journalists, activists, and students.
Political Fallout and Media Backlash
The escalating battle between Musk, Trump, and mainstream media has sparked intense debate about government influence over journalism. While some argue that public funding ensures media independence, critics claim it compromises journalistic integrity.
With DOGE’s investigations ongoing, the issue of media funding transparency is likely to remain a major talking point in the lead-up to the 2025 U.S. elections.
