Trump Calls His Own Foreign Aid Cuts At USAID “Devastating”

President Donald Trump mentioned on Wednesday that his administration’s cuts to the U.S. Agency for International Development and its assist applications worldwide have been “devastating.”

Speaking beside South African President Cyril Ramaphosa throughout a White House go to, Trump was requested about his chopping most international assist by a reporter who mentioned the choice had important impacts in Africa.

“It’s devastating, and hopefully lots of people are going to begin spending some huge cash,” Trump mentioned within the Oval Office.

“I’ve talked to different nations. We need them to chip in and spend cash too, and we have spent quite a bit. And it is a massive – it is a large drawback happening in lots of nations. A whole lot of issues happening. The United States at all times will get the request for cash. Nobody else helps.”

The State Department, which manages USAID, didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark. The administration has repeatedly defended the cuts, saying they had been targeted on wasted funds. The gutting of the company, largely overseen by South Africa-born businessman Elon Musk, is the topic of a number of federal lawsuits.

The United States is the world’s largest humanitarian assist donor, amounting to no less than 38% of all contributions recorded by the United Nations. It disbursed $61 billion in international help final 12 months, simply over half of it by way of USAID, in response to authorities information.

The U.S. spent half a billion {dollars} on South African assist in 2023, totally on healthcare, the latest information reveals. Most of that funding has been withdrawn, although it’s unclear precisely how a lot.

The cuts have had an impact on the nation’s response to the HIV epidemic. South Africa has the world’s highest burden of HIV, with about 8 million individuals – one in 5 adults – residing with the virus.

Washington was funding 17% of the nation’s HIV funds earlier than the cuts. In the months since, testing and monitoring of HIV sufferers throughout South Africa has decreased, Reuters has reported.

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