Republican Lawmakers Seek PBS Defunding Over Sesame Street Pride Post

Republican lawmakers, including President Donald Trump and Congress members such as Rep. Mary Miller and Sen. Mike Lee, have intensified calls to defund the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) following Sesame Street’s social media post celebrating Pride Month. The post, which emphasized inclusivity and acceptance, went viral with over 22 million views and sparked accusations from conservatives that the show is involved in 'grooming' children and promoting 'woke' agendas through taxpayer-funded programming. Trump’s administration has proposed significant budget cuts aimed at PBS and related entities, leveraging congressional approval to reduce public media funding. Critics highlight content including appearances by LGBTQ+ figures like Jonathan Van Ness on Sesame Street spinoffs as evidence supporting their claims. Supporters of Sesame Street and PBS argue that the programming promotes tolerance and community values without inappropriate content, while conservatives view it as a misuse of public funds for political and cultural influence. The debate underscores ongoing tensions over public broadcasting’s role and funding amid broader cultural conflicts in the U.S.