Politico Shuts Down Misinformation on Alleged Government Funding

Politico, a leading political news organization, issued a strong rebuttal on Thursday, dismissing a conspiracy theory gaining traction with support from President Donald Trump. The controversy stems from ongoing scrutiny of the Trump administration’s attempts—spearheaded by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and tech mogul Elon Musk—to dismantle the U.S. Agency for Internal Development (USAID). In response, Trump and his allies have accused Politico of receiving government funding through USAID, alleging that the organization launders money via its premium subscription service.

“LOOKS LIKE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS HAVE BEEN STOLLEN (sic) AT USAID, AND OTHER AGENCIES, MUCH OF IT GOING TO THE FAKE NEWS MEDIA AS A ‘PAYOFF’ FOR CREATING GOOD STORIES ABOUT THE DEMOCRATS,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Politico quickly refuted the claims, calling them baseless. “POLITICO has been the subject of debate on X this week. Some of it has been misinformed, and some of it has been flat-out false. Let’s set the record straight,” the company stated. “POLITICO is a privately owned company. We have never received any government funding — no subsidies, no grants, no handouts. Not one dime, ever, in 18 years.”

The statement also addressed Politico Pro, the organization’s subscription-based professional service. “POLITICO Pro is different,” the statement read. “It is a professional subscription service used by companies, organizations, and, yes, some government agencies.

They subscribe because it makes them better at their jobs — helping them track policy, legislation, and regulations in real-time with news, intelligence, and a suite of data products. At its core, POLITICO Pro is about transparency and accountability: Shining a light on the work of the agencies, regulators, and policymakers throughout our vast federal government.”

The statement further clarified that most subscriptions are held by private-sector entities, with only a small percentage used by federal agencies. These government subscriptions, Politico emphasized, are procured through standard procedures, akin to how agencies purchase research materials, software, and industry reports.

“We stand by our work, our values, and our commitment to transparency, accountability, and efficiency — the same principles that drive great journalism and great business,” the statement concluded. Despite Politico’s firm denial, the conspiracy theory continues to spread among Trump supporters online, highlighting the persistent challenge of combating misinformation in the digital age.