During his first recent address to Congress, US President Donald Trump inadvertently brought the attention of lawmakers to Lesotho, a largely overlooked landlocked monarchy in Southern Africa. While detailing a series of past US aid initiatives, Trump’s mention of “eight million dollars to promote LGBTQI+ in the African nation of Lesotho” not only sparked laughter among Republican lawmakers, including Vice President JD Vance and Speaker Mike Johnson, but also highlighted a critical aspect of US engagement in a country grappling with urgent public health crises.
Trump’s flippant recognition of Lesotho, stating “which nobody has ever heard of,” belied the significant implications of US foreign aid in the nation, particularly in the realm of combating one of the highest rates of HIV/AIDS globally. The United States has made substantial contributions to anti-HIV/AIDS efforts, committing over $630 million since 2006 to provide essential medications and social support resources, and to raise awareness among stigmatised sexual minority communities.
Last year, a monumental $300 million deal was also signed with the Millennium Challenge Corporation aimed at enhancing health services and agricultural productivity in Lesotho. This funding is particularly noteworthy as it is contingent on the recipient government meeting certain criteria for democracy and good governance. Yet in a contrasting move, the Trump administration, upon returning to power, has seen a dramatic reduction in US foreign assistance, cutting more than 90% of the budget allocated to international aid. This reduction rests on claims of prioritising domestic over international expenditure, where these funds might ‘better serve’ US tax cuts.
One can’t overlook the influence of high-profile figures like South African-born billionaire Elon Musk during this period of retraction in American foreign assistance; under his guidance, Trump has effectively shuttered operations at the US Agency for International Development. This move indicates not only a diminished interest in global humanitarian needs but a stark departure from a historically more engaged approach within Africa.
Amidst ongoing challenges in Lesotho, including health crises and socio-economic struggles, the future of US foreign aid remains uncertain, leaving many to wonder what legacy such comments will leave in a country that desperately needs support.