PBS scrubs transgender and drag content from children’s programming after Trump launches media war following ABC lawsuit victory
The nation’s public broadcaster has quietly removed multiple episodes featuring LGBTQ+ themes from its children’s programming archives.
This dramatic shift comes as President Trump intensifies his assault on mainstream media following his stunning $15 million legal victory against ABC News.
The Trump Administration’s Media Offensive
Trump’s aggressive campaign against news outlets has sent shockwaves through the media landscape since December.
His lawsuit against ABC News for reporting on his 2023 legal case resulted in an unprecedented $15 million settlement, despite the network’s ability to prove their reporting was factual.
Rather than fight the case, ABC chose to settle and pay the substantial sum to the incoming president.
This victory has emboldened Trump to target other major news organizations, particularly PBS, NPR, and ABC News.
Congressional Pressure Mounts
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene has led the charge against PBS through her role in the DOGE subcommittee on government efficiency.
In March, Greene specifically targeted the public broadcaster during hearings focused on taxpayer funding.
“I’m looking forward to holding the hearing tomorrow at 10 a.m. where we will be shining an intense spotlight on how Americans’ hard-earned tax dollars have been used by PBS and NPR,” Greene stated on NewsMax.
She accused the networks of pushing far-left programming that allegedly influences children’s gender identity.
The Controversial Content Under Fire
Greene specifically criticized what she called “Drag Queen Story Time instead of good old Sesame Street.”
Her comments appeared to reference a 2021 episode of the educational program “Let’s Learn” titled “The Hips on the Drag Queen Go Swish.”
The episode featured drag performer Lil’ Miss Hot Mess reading from a children’s book set to the tune of “The Wheels on the Bus.”
During the “Anti-American Airwaves” DOGE subcommittee hearing, Greene escalated her criticism significantly.
PBS Leadership Responds
PBS CEO Paula Kerger initially attempted to distance the organization from the controversial content.
“The drag queen was actually not on any of our kids’ shows,” Kerger claimed, stating the episode was added to PBS’ website by mistake.
New York affiliate WNET, which produces “Let’s Learn,” had previously defended the programming.
They explained that the show “strives to incorporate themes that explore diversity and promote inclusivity, which are relevant to education and society.”
The Great Content Purge
Under mounting pressure from the Trump administration and congressional Republicans, PBS has now taken decisive action.
WNET has completely removed the drag queen episode from all its platforms and rescinded its previous support for the content.
Additionally, the network has scrubbed at least two other episodes featuring children’s books with transgender protagonists from their archives.
PBS has also removed scenes from an Art Spiegelman documentary where the graphic novelist discussed anti-Trump cartoons.
A gaming documentary with transgender themes was initially pulled but later restored after media inquiries.
A New Era of Media Accountability
This sweeping content removal represents a significant shift in how public broadcasting responds to political pressure.
The changes come as Trump continues his broader campaign to hold media organizations accountable for what he views as biased reporting.
For many conservatives, PBS’s decision to remove this content represents a long-overdue correction to programming they viewed as inappropriate for children and funded by taxpayer dollars.