Note to self, Elon asking for trouble
Re <<NED>> that funds the messenger with the evergreen ‘analysis’ to suspect Bloomberg which I do not spend precious time to read except when occasionally I want to know what the MSM opinion-leaders are told to say
Musk says “NED is a scam” … Musk ought to know, am guessing
newsweek.com
What Is NED? Elon Musk Takes Aim at Agency Founded by Reagan Administration - Newsweek
Billionaire Elon Musk has criticized the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), a nonprofit organization established by the U.S. government during Republican Ronald Reagan's presidency.
"NED is a SCAM," Musk wrote on his social media platform X, formerly Twitter, on Sunday, in response to a user who used Musk's artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot Grok to identify "red flags of corruption or concerns" with NED.
Newsweek has contacted the NED and Musk for further comment via email.
Why It Matters
Musk, the world's richest man and ally of President Donald Trump's, is running the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a Trump administration task force assigned to find ways to cut wasteful federal spending and "dismantle" government bureaucracy. Musk said in October that he could trim the federal budget by at least $2 trillion, but last month backtracked on that goal, saying there was a "good shot" of cutting it by half that amount.
Musk said early Monday that the U.S. Agency for International Aid Development (USAID), which oversees foreign assistance programs, including humanitarian aid, economic development and disaster relief, was being shut down, saying it was "beyond repair."
What Is NED?
The NED is an independent, nonprofit, non-governmental organization (NGO) dedicated to "strengthening democratic institutions and values" around the world, according to its website.
The organization says it provides more than 2,000 grants to support the projects of nongovernmental groups in more than 100 countries every year. It is primarily funded by the U.S. government, through annual appropriations from Congress.
It was established by the National Endowment for Democracy Act, which was signed into law by Reagan in 1983.
It was born from a 1982 speech to Britain's Parliament where Reagan called for a new initiative to "foster the infrastructure of democracy, the system of a free press, unions, political parties, universities, which allows a people to choose their own way, to develop their own culture, to reconcile their own differences through peaceful means."
Elon Musk arrives for the Inauguration of Donald J. Trump in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda on January 20 in Washington, D.C. Kevin Lamarque/Pool-Getty Images
What To Know
In an earlier X post on Sunday, Musk wrote that NED was "RIFE with CORRUPTION" in response to a post that noted GOP Indiana Senator Todd Young, among the senators who could derail Tulsi Gabbard's confirmation as director of national intelligence, had recently joined the organization's board of directors.
Musk later wrote: "Just had an excellent conversation with @SenToddYoung. I stand corrected. Senator Young will be a great ally in restoring power to the people from the vast, unelected bureaucracy."
But he added in another post that "anyone with integrity needs to resign from NED. That evil organization needs to be dissolved."
What People Are SayingThe National Endowment for Democracy (NED) said in a news release on Sunday that it "operates with a steadfast commitment to supporting freedom around the world, guided by a nonpartisan approach."
It added: "The need for NED's work is more urgent than ever, as authoritarian regimes threaten democracy, as well as global peace and stability. Countries with entrenched autocracies often engage in destabilizing activities, such as supporting terrorism, undermining regional security, and challenging global trade norms. By investing in NED, the United States strengthens its ability to counter these threats and safeguard the values of freedom."
President Ronald Reagan said in 1983 during the NED's inauguration: "The National Endowment for Democracy is, just as we've been told, more than bipartisan; it's a genuine partnership of Republicans and Democrats, of labor and business, conservatives and liberals, and of the executive and legislative branches of government. It's such a worthwhile, important initiative that I'm tempted to ask: Why hasn't it been done before? Well, we're doing it now..."
President Donald Trump told reporters on Sunday: "I think Elon's doing a good job. He's a big cost-cutter. Sometimes we won't agree with it and we'll not go where he wants to go, but I think he's doing a great job. He's a smart guy. Very smart. And he's very much into cutting the budget of our federal government."
What Happens NextWhether Musk's criticisms could lead to changes or dismantling of the NED remains to be seen. |
