Amid the Massive Foreign Aid Slashes, Trump Mocks Lesotho

In the process of defending the sweeping cuts in aid, US President Donald Trump on Tuesday mocked tiny Lesotho as a country "nobody has ever heard of"

Trump 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," Trump said.
"Which nobody has ever heard of," Trump added.

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 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.

The Trump administration on 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 better go to tax cuts.