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Trump to GOP Senators: Defund NPR and PBS or Lose My Endorsement

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President Donald Trump delivered a clear ultimatum to Republican senators on Thursday: back the White House’s effort to defund NPR and PBS—or risk losing his political support.

Trump’s warning centers on the $9.4 billion rescissions package already passed by the House, which includes more than $1 billion in cuts to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), the federally funded entity that bankrolls NPR, PBS, and dozens of smaller media operations across the country. The Senate is set to vote on the bill next week.

“It is very important that all Republicans adhere to my Recissions Bill and, in particular, DEFUND THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING (PBS and NPR), which is worse than CNN & MSDNC put together,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Any Republican that votes to allow this monstrosity to continue broadcasting will not have my support or Endorsement.”

The legislation follows an executive order Trump signed in May, directing CPB to halt all funding to NPR and PBS. The order accused the organizations of abandoning any pretense of neutrality, stating that “neither entity presents a fair, accurate, or unbiased portrayal of current events to taxpaying citizens.”

If passed, the bill would cut $8.3 billion in foreign spending—targeting projects like “Net Zero Cities” in Mexico, LGBTQ+ initiatives overseas, and even Iraq’s version of Sesame Street—alongside the $1.1 billion hit to CPB.

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Several publicly funded outlets, including NPR, have challenged Trump’s executive order in court, claiming it violates the First Amendment and contradicts prior congressional appropriations. However, if the Senate passes the bill, much of the lawsuit may become irrelevant.

Still, a few Senate Republicans have expressed resistance. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) oppose the media cuts, while Senator Mike Rounds (R-SD) is reportedly seeking to protect public broadcasting funds earmarked for Native American radio networks.

The White House, however, appears unmoved. Trump has made it clear that continued federal support for NPR and PBS is incompatible with his America First agenda—and any Republican not on board may soon find themselves on the wrong side of a primary.