Staff Reports
In a narrative twist worthy of a spy novel, President Donald Trump and tech mogul Elon Musk let the cat out of the bag, claiming that the federal government funneled over $9 million to Reuters for what they described as a “large scale social deception” project. This revelation comes on the heels of a Reuters report that took aim at Musk’s new venture, the Department of Government Efficiency. Unsurprisingly, Reuters quickly dismissed the allegations, much like a magician deflects a spotlight during a trick.
Musk’s social media musings took a sharp turn when he questioned the financial ties between the government and Reuters. With a wink and a nudge, he threw down the gauntlet, signaling his intent to uncover just how deep the government’s pockets run in their relationship with the news outlet. He found an intriguing $9 million contract between the Department of Defense and a subsidiary of Reuters. The contract, which dates back to September 2018, had the gall to describe its purpose as “active social engineering defense” and—hold on to your hats—“large scale social deception.” Talk about a headline that writes itself!
🚨🇺🇸 DOD PAID REUTERS $9M FOR "SOCIAL ENGINEERING" PROGRAM
DOGE investigations reveal mysterious Defense Department payments to Reuters for "large scale social deception" project between 2018-2022.
While DARPA claims it was for cyber defense, questions swirl about why a news… https://t.co/8jfgRLW8Fv pic.twitter.com/DAcppcf2j9
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) February 13, 2025
The revelations sparked instant intrigue, and Musk wasted no time tearing into Reuters, arguing they had essentially made millions while reportedly focused on misleading the public. It certainly paints a colorful picture of the media landscape, with Reuters allegedly playing both sides—on the government’s payroll for cyber defense while simultaneously critiquing Musk’s efficiency initiatives. Musk’s theatrical disdain for the news outlet added an extra splash of chaos to the mix, labeling them as a “total scam.”
Adding fuel to this already fiery situation, Trump seized the moment to voice his opinion on Truth Social, demanding the news outlet return the cash. The former president’s statement concerning the “Radical Left Reuters” echoed sentiments commonplace in conservative circles, where skepticism of mainstream media is as ubiquitous as apple pie at a Fourth of July barbecue. He called for a full investigation, likely envisioning a battalion of patriots scouring through contracts instead of the usual enemy combatants.
Meanwhile, Reuters attempted to distance itself from the controversy by claiming its subsidiary operates under an independent board of directors—an argument that might work with a toddler, but likely not in the court of public opinion. They insisted that the $9 million was spent to combat social engineering—a cyber threat where bad actors coax sensitive information from unsuspecting individuals. Who could disagree with fighting off deception? This raises the question: who is really deceiving whom here?
As the dust settles, one thing is crystal clear: this saga has only just begun. With Trump and Musk throwing down the gauntlet and the mainstream media scrambling to defend itself, the political theater surrounding government accountability and transparency is primed for a riveting sequel. Whether passionately engaged or simply amused, conservatives will be watching eagerly for the next act in this unfolding drama.
