Elmo, the beloved character from Sesame Street, faced backlash for his diplomatic approach to sports fandom, leading to a new controversy after he expressed support for Team USA in the FIFA World Cup. The House Republicans praised Elmo as a 'certified PATRIOT,' despite their previous vote to cut funding for PBS, the network airing Sesame Street. This has led to accusations of hypocrisy among Republicans, as many highlight the disconnect between their support for Elmo and their actions against public broadcasting funding.