On June 3, 2025, Elon Musk publicly called for the defunding of the United Nations. Responding to a video of UN Secretary-General António Guterres discussing the need to combat online misinformation and hate speech, Musk posted on X (formerly Twitter): “Defund the UN.”
Guterres had introduced a policy brief titled “Information Integrity on Digital Platforms,” advocating for coordinated international action to address the spread of falsehoods and harmful content online. He emphasized that digital platforms are being misused to “subvert science” and “spread disinformation and hate to billions of people.”
Musk’s statement aligns with his longstanding advocacy for minimal content moderation on digital platforms. Since acquiring X, he has rolled back several of the platform’s previous content policies, reinstated controversial accounts, and promoted a “free speech absolutist” approach to online discourse.
The United Nations responded to Musk’s comment through spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, who succinctly stated, “Fund the UN,” when asked about Musk’s remarks.
The United States is the largest single contributor to the UN, accounting for 22% of its regular budget and nearly 27% of peacekeeping costs. Recent reports indicate that Washington has withheld approximately $1.5 billion in dues, contributing to a budget crisis that may result in up to 20% staff reductions across the UN system.
