On Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump ridiculed the small African nation of Lesotho, calling it a country “nobody has ever heard of,” as he justified his administration’s drastic cuts to foreign aid.
Speaking before Congress, Trump listed past U.S. aid expenditures, including an $8 million program supporting LGBTQI+ rights in Lesotho. Struggling to pronounce the country’s name, he dismissed its significance, prompting laughter from Republican lawmakers, while Vice President JD Vance and Speaker Mike Johnson looked on, smiling.
Lesotho, a landlocked constitutional monarchy, has one of the world’s highest HIV/AIDS rates. The U.S. has invested over $630 million in combating the disease there since 2006, providing medication, support services, and awareness campaigns, particularly for marginalized communities facing stigma.
In addition to its HIV/AIDS initiatives, the U.S. signed a $300 million agreement last year to enhance health and agricultural production in Lesotho through the Millennium Challenge Corporation, which funds nations demonstrating democratic governance.
However, Trump’s administration, upon returning to office, has slashed over 90% of U.S. foreign aid, arguing that taxpayer money is better used for domestic tax cuts. Under the influence of South African-born billionaire Elon Musk, Trump has also dismantled the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
Trump has historically shown little engagement with Africa. During his first term, he sparked controversy by reportedly using a derogatory term to describe African nations.
