US President Donald Trump on Tuesday mocked tiny Lesotho as a country ‘nobody has ever heard of’ as he defended his sweeping cuts in aid.
Donald highlighted the landlocked African constitutional monarchy during an address to Congress as he gave a long list of past US aid projects.
“Eight million dollars to promote LGBTQI+ in the African nation of Lesotho,” Donald said, struggling with the pronunciation.
“Which nobody has ever heard of,” Donald added, as Republican lawmakers laughed and Vice President JD Vance and Speaker Mike Johnson grinned behind him.
President Trump gets the gallery laughing while listing off government waste:
“$8 million to promote LGBTQI+ in the African nation of Lesotho, which nobody has ever heard of.” pic.twitter.com/ra46eOYKB2
— The American Conservative (@amconmag) March 5, 2025
Lesotho has one of the highest rates in the world of HIV/AIDS, which the United States has sought to address by providing medication and other social support, including raising awareness among sexual minorities who face stigma.
The United States has committed more than $630 million since 2006 to anti-HIV/AIDS efforts in Lesotho, according to the US embassy there.
The United States last year also signed a $300 million deal to promote health and crop production in Lesotho through the Millennium Challenge Corporation, which awards US funding to developing countries that meet standards on democracy and good governance.
“8 million USD to promote LGBTQl in Lesotho, a country nobody knows about”
Nxaa Trump oa re tella moss??dieman ha tsebe Lesotho?? pic.twitter.com/WU5RFyHxgH— Eric??@Eric Ts’olo77 (@EricTsolo1) March 5, 2025
The Trump administration, upon returning to office, has cancelled more than 90 percent of US foreign assistance, saying it is not in the US interest and that the money would be better spent on tax cuts.
Under the guidance of South African-born billionaire Elon Musk, Donald has effectively shut down the US Agency for International Development.
Donald in his first term showed little interest in Africa, notoriously being quoted as using an epithet to describe immigrants from the continent.
First published by African Insider
Also see: First Kagame, now Donald Trump: Why are all eyes on South Africa right now?
