Key points:
- Trump ridicules Lesotho in Congress speech
- US slashes 90% of foreign aid under new policy
- Lesotho faces HIV crisis amid funding cuts
US President Donald Trump has once again stirred controversy, this time mocking the African nation of Lesotho while defending his administration’s sweeping cuts to foreign aid.
According to a report by Agence France-Presse (AFP), Trump made the remarks during a Congressional address on Tuesday, where he listed past US aid projects he deemed wasteful. Among them, he singled out $8 million allocated for LGBTQI+ programmes in Lesotho, a landlocked constitutional monarchy in Southern Africa.
‘Which nobody has ever heard of,’ Trump added, struggling to pronounce the country’s name. His comment drew laughter from Republican lawmakers, with Vice President JD Vance and Speaker Mike Johnson smiling behind him.
Lesotho’s health crisis amid US aid cuts
Lesotho, a nation of about 2.3 million people, has long been a recipient of US foreign assistance, particularly in the fight against HIV/AIDS. The country has one of the world’s highest HIV prevalence rates, and US-funded programmes have played a crucial role in providing medication, social support, and awareness campaigns.
According to the US Embassy in Lesotho, Washington has committed over $630 million to combating HIV/AIDS in the country since 2006. In 2023, the US also signed a $300 million agreement under the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) to support health and agriculture initiatives in Lesotho.
However, Trump’s return to office has seen a drastic rollback in US foreign aid, with his administration cancelling over 90 percent of assistance programs, arguing they do not serve American interests.
Trump’s foreign policy shift and the Musk factor
Trump has largely disengaged from African affairs, a stance that was evident during his first term when he allegedly used derogatory language to describe African immigrants. His second-term policies have further restricted international engagement, with his administration effectively shutting down the US Agency for International Development (USAID).
The move has been heavily influenced by South African-born billionaire Elon Musk, who has advised the Trump administration on cutting foreign aid in favour of tax reductions. Trump’s strategy marks one of the most significant shifts in US international policy, leaving many developing nations scrambling to fill the funding gap left by America’s retreat.
As Lesotho grapples with severe public health challenges, experts warn that the sudden withdrawal of US aid could reverse years of progress in HIV/AIDS prevention and healthcare development. While Trump defends his ‘America First’ approach, critics argue that these cuts undermine global health efforts and weaken diplomatic ties with African nations.
