Country music legend Sheryl Crow criticized billionaire Elon Musk’s role in government by selling her Tesla and donating the money to NPR at a time when President Donald Trump repeatedly called for reducing federal funding for public television stations, according to The Hill.

Sheryl Crow: Biography, Songs, Age, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

“My parents always said…you can’t be too close to someone,” Crow wrote on Friday, February 14, in an Instagram post that included a video of the Tesla being towed away. “There comes a time when we have to decide who we want to be close to. Goodbye, Tesla.”

The article comes as Trump has increasingly criticized public broadcasters, arguing that stations like NPR and PBS have a liberal bias and that the federal government should cut off funding, which makes up a small portion of their budgets.
Singer Sheryl Crow sold her Tesla for money to NPR on February 14, 2025. (Photo: sherylcrow/Instagram)
Earlier this month, Musk, who heads DOGE’s Department of Government Efficiency, called on the federal government to “defund” NPR.

“NPR has to fend for itself,” the Tesla CEO wrote on X

Crow has been outspoken in his condemnation of the president and has criticized efforts to dismantle NPR, a broadcaster founded in 1970 that receives most of its funding from private donors and donations from readers and listeners.

Sheryl Crow sells her Tesla and donates proceeds to NPR - ABC7 Los Angeles

“I donated to @NPR, which is being threatened by President Musk, and I hope those who want the truth will continue to hear it,” the country artist wrote.

Trump has long called for NPR to be dismantled, and in January the Federal Communications Commission launched an investigation into NPR and PBS. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr expressed concern that the broadcasters were violating federal law by airing commercials.

“I am concerned that NPR and PBS programs may violate federal law by showing commercials,” Carr wrote in a letter to news organizations. “In particular, it is possible that NPR and PBS stations may show announcements acknowledging their financial support, which may be tantamount to advertising, which is a prohibited commercial activity.”

The comments from the singer, best known for writing the song “If It Makes You Happy,” come as Democratic lawmakers have expressed concern about Musk’s growing influence in the Trump administration, while Republicans are said to fear upsetting the Trump administration if they disagree with the president’s agenda and potentially face immediate challenges due to Musk’s manipulation.
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