Elon Musk backs calls to shut down "relic" state media
Elon Musk, who leads the American Department of State Efficiency, supports closing Radio Free Europe and Voice of America. Both broadcasters are funded by the U.S. government.
Musk shared his position on the social media platform X, responding to a post by Richard Grenell, the former intelligence chief from President Donald Trump's era.
Musk on relics of the past
Grenell described Radio Free Europe and Voice of America as "relics of the past," claiming that the U.S. government does not need state media, which he believes are full of "extreme leftist activists."
Musk agreed with this opinion, writing: "Yes, shut them down." He also added that Europe, aside from its "suffocating bureaucracy," is already free, and no one listens to these media.
Musk also criticized the expenditures on these institutions, stating: "They're just insane leftists who talk to each other, wasting 1 billion dollars a year of taxpayer money."
The history and operations of the broadcasters
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty was established in 1949 with the mission of operating in regions where the free flow of information is restricted. It currently broadcasts in 27 languages across 23 countries, and its headquarters is located in Prague. On the other hand, Voice of America is a radio and television station that broadcasts in 47 languages and is listened to by 278 million people weekly.
Both institutions are overseen by the U.S. Agency for Global Media. At its helm is Brent Bozell, a conservative columnist and activist, appointed by President Trump. Bozell is known for his criticism of liberal media.
