White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt responded to the CEO of NPR, Katherine Maher, claiming these cuts would be “a real risk” to American safety. At the White House Press briefing, Leavitt defended the cuts by listing a number of instances NPR and other public broadcasting had shown bias in their reporting.
“This is a taxpayer funded organization.” Leavitt said. “In 2018, that same CEO that you’re talking about called the president in the Oval Office, who nearly 80 million Americans elected, she called him racist.”
“NPR refused to cover the Hunter Biden laptop scandal in the run up to the election,” Leavitt said. “They said their assertions don’t amount to much, writing they did not want to waste the listeners and readers time on stories that are just pure distractions. That does not sound like an unbiased opinion.”
“In 2020 PBS’ White House correspondent at the time characterized President Trump’s speech, then at Mount Rushmore,” Leavitt said. “As a love letter to white resentment, promoting the myth of America.”
“These are not honest news organizations.” Leavitt said. “These are Partizan left wing outlets that are funded by the taxpayers. And this administration does not believe it’s a good use of the taxpayer’s time and money.”
Leavitt made these statements in response to Katherine Maher’s comments in a CBS interview before the vote.
“Defunding this is a real risk to the public safety of the country,” Maher told CBS. “Public media, public radio, public television, are a critical part of the emergency response plans of nearly half of the states in this nation.”
Leavitt dismissed the cuts as a threat to public safety.
“I am not sure how NPR helps the public safety of our country,” Leavitt said. “But I do know that NPR, unfortunately, has become really just a propaganda voice for the left.”
TRUMP DIAGNOSED WITH CHRONIC VENOUS INSUFFICIENCY CONDITION, WHITE HOUSE REVEALS
The Senate voted Wednesday to advance the rescission package with a final vote of 51-48. It will now be sent back to the House for final approval where it is expected to pass quickly and head to President Trump’s desk for his signature.
Congress also hopes to pass several more rescission packages that will make significant steps toward balancing the United States’ budget.
