--- title: "Naomi Seibt seeks US State Department funding for far-right media network" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/media/naomi-seibt-seeks-us-state-department-funding-for-far-right-media-network" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/naomi-seibt-seeks-us-state-department-funding-for-far-right-media-network" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/media/naomi-seibt-seeks-us-state-department-funding-for-far-right-media-network.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/naomi-seibt-seeks-us-state-department-funding-for-far-right-media-network" category: "Media" area: "United States" published: "2026-08-11T18:45:54.103Z" source_reported: "2026-08-11T13:07:16.650Z" updated: "2026-08-11T18:45:54.103Z" trust_score: 68 critic_score: 95 hype_score: 15 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-08-11T13:47:28.086Z" --- # Naomi Seibt seeks US State Department funding for far-right media network *German influencer applied under a programme supporting European organisations focused on free speech and sovereignty* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 68 of 100, higher is better. Trust 68: multiple named sources (Naomi Seibt, Handelsblatt) and independent outlets corroborate the application claim. - Craft 95 of 100, higher is better. Critic 95: provides context, quotes Seibt and State Dept, separates facts, and notes pending decision. - Hype 15 of 100, lower is better. Hype 15: language is factual and headline matches article without sensational exaggeration. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Naomi Seibt, a German far-right influencer, applied for US State Department funding to establish the Freedom Alliance of the West, a media network focused on free speech and sovereignty. - Seibt’s application was made under a State Department programme supporting European organisations addressing free speech, migration, and sovereignty issues. - The State Department said its programming backs European allies defending their civilisational self-confidence but did not comment on Seibt’s application. - Seibt, who previously sought political asylum in the US, has been amplified by Elon Musk on social media and is linked to the Alternative for Germany party. Naomi Seibt, a German far-right influencer, applied for funding from the US State Department to launch a media network called the Freedom Alliance of the West. The application was made under a State Department programme aimed at supporting European organisations focused on free speech, national sovereignty, and migration, as reported by Germany’s Handelsblatt. Seibt, who has been linked to the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, told Handelsblatt that the network would include a social media channel and collaborations with lawyers, alternative media outlets, and polling institutes. The State Department confirmed its programming supports European allies in defending their civilisational self-confidence and sovereignty but did not comment on Seibt’s application. Seibt, who previously applied for political asylum in the United States, has gained prominence as a climate change sceptic and has been amplified by Elon Musk on social media. A decision on her funding application is pending. ## What the coverage left out No left-rated outlet ran this story. None of the centre-rated digests mentioned the State Department’s full statement on its programming, which was carried only in The Straits Times’ full report. The cost or scale of the proposed funding was not reported by any outlet. ## Who covered it Shares of the 6 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 0% (0) - Centre: 67% (4) - Right: 33% (2) 1 of 7 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-08-11T13:47:28.086Z. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 3 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-08-11T19:30:32.835Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left No separate framing summary. ### Centre - The four centre-rated reports led on Seibt’s application for US State Department funding and her ties to the AfD. Devdiscourse, whose full report is printed below, described the Freedom Alliance of the West as an initiative aimed at free speech, national sovereignty, and migration issues. It noted Seibt’s asylum application and her association with Elon Musk but did not quote the State Department’s statement on its programming. - Devdiscourse’s headline called Seibt a far-right influencer backed by Elon Musk and framed the story as her seeking funding for a media initiative. The report quoted Handelsblatt as the source of the application details but did not include the State Department’s full statement on its European programming. ### Right - The two right-rated reports both named Seibt and led on her application for US funding. The Straits Times, whose full report is printed below, quoted Seibt’s description of the Freedom Alliance of the West and included the State Department’s statement that its programming supports European allies defending their civilisational self-confidence and sovereignty. It also noted Seibt’s asylum application and her amplification by Elon Musk. - The Straits Times’ headline described Seibt as a far-right influencer and framed the story as her applying for US funding for a new media network. The report quoted Handelsblatt and included Seibt’s self-description as a libertarian and AfD supporter. Welt’s digest, which did not name Seibt, led on her plan to build a network financed by US government funds. **Provisional coverage gap:** left. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - mixed: 1 - high: 3 - unknown: 2 - veryHigh: 1 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [Welt](https://welt.de/politik/ausland/article6a7b0b685a14d83b293f0338/bericht-afd-nahe-influencerin-naomi-seibt-will-mit-geldern-der-us-regierung-netzwerk-aufbauen.html) — Report: AfD-Near Influencer Naomi Seibt Wants to Build a Network of US Government Funds - [Blue Water Healthy Living](https://bluewaterhealthyliving.com/news/world-news/german-far-right-influencer-applies-for-us-funding-for-new-media-network) — German far-right influencer applies for US funding for new media network - [Investing.com](https://investing.com/news/economy-news/german-farright-influencer-applies-for-us-funding-for-new-media-network-4849135) — German far-right influencer applies for US funding for new media network - [Devdiscourse](https://devdiscourse.com/article/entertainment/3961989-german-influencer-seeks-us-state-dept-funding-for-media-initiative) — German Influencer Seeks U.S. State Dept. Funding for Media Initiative - [The Straits Times](https://straitstimes.com/world/europe/german-far-right-influencer-applies-for-us-funding-for-new-media-network) — German far-right influencer applies for US funding for new media network - [Reuters](https://reuters.com/business/media-telecom/german-far-right-influencer-applies-us-funding-new-media-network-2026-08-10) — German far-right influencer applies for US funding for new media network - [WTVB](https://wtvbam.com/2026/08/10/german-far-right-influencer-applies-for-us-funding-for-new-media-network) — German far-right influencer applies for US funding for new media network ## Questions **What is the Freedom Alliance of the West?** The Freedom Alliance of the West is a proposed media network by Naomi Seibt, a German far-right influencer. It aims to focus on free speech, national sovereignty, and migration issues, including a social media channel and collaborations with lawyers and alternative media outlets, as reported by Handelsblatt. **Did the US State Department comment on Seibt’s application?** The US State Department did not comment on Naomi Seibt’s specific application but said its programming supports European allies defending their civilisational self-confidence and sovereignty. This statement was reported by The Straits Times and not included in other outlets’ digests. **Why did Naomi Seibt apply for US funding?** Naomi Seibt applied for US State Department funding under a programme supporting European organisations focused on free speech, sovereignty, and migration. She told Handelsblatt the Freedom Alliance of the West would promote these issues through a media network, as reported by multiple outlets. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. 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