US President Donald Trump mocked Lesotho on Tuesday, calling it a country nobody has ever heard of while defending his drastic cuts to foreign aid. Speaking to Congress, Trump highlighted various US aid projects, including a $8 million initiative promoting LGBTQI+ rights in the small African nation.
Struggling to pronounce the name, Trump added, “Which nobody has ever heard of,” prompting laughter from Republican lawmakers and grins from Vice President JD Vance and Speaker Mike Johnson.
Despite Trump’s comments, Lesotho has been a significant recipient of US aid, particularly in tackling HIV/AIDS, with one of the highest rates of the disease globally. Since 2006, the US has provided over $630 million to combat the epidemic in Lesotho, offering medical support and raising awareness among sexual minorities facing stigma.
Last year, the US signed a $300 million deal with Lesotho to boost health and agriculture under the Millennium Challenge Corporation, an agency that funds projects in countries that meet democratic and governance standards.
However, Trump’s administration, since his return to office, has sharply reduced US foreign assistance, directing funds toward tax cuts instead. He has also dismantled the US Agency for International Development (USAID), which was previously involved in such initiatives.
During his first term, Trump often showed little interest in Africa and was notably quoted for using disparaging language to describe immigrants from the continent.
