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2mo ago

Lesotho Responds to Trump’s Dismissive Remarks in Congressional Speech

The African nation’s foreign minister expressed shock and extended an invitation to the U.S. president after he described the country as one 'nobody has ever heard of.'

Image
A general view of a village outside the capital Maseru, Lesotho June 3, 2017. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko/File Photo
The city of Maseru, Lesotho at sunset, surrounded by hills. (Tzviatko Chiderov/Getty Images)
FILE - Elderly women leave the poling station after casting their vote in Thaba-Tseka District, 82km east of Maseru, Lesotho, Friday, Oct. 7, 2022. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe, file)

Overview

  • President Donald Trump criticized $8 million in U.S. funding for LGBTQ+ initiatives in Lesotho during a speech to Congress, describing the country as 'nobody has ever heard of,' which drew laughter from lawmakers.
  • Lesotho's foreign minister, Lejone Mpotjoane, called the remarks 'insulting' and emphasized the country's unique global significance, inviting Trump to visit and learn more about the nation.
  • Lesotho, a small mountainous kingdom surrounded by South Africa, has longstanding diplomatic ties with the U.S., which has provided significant aid for health and development programs, including over $630 million for HIV/AIDS efforts since 2006.
  • The LGBTQ+ organization People's Matrix in Lesotho denied receiving the $8 million Trump referenced, stating they have not received any U.S. grants, while U.S. aid records show funds primarily allocated to health initiatives.
  • The Trump administration’s sweeping foreign aid cuts, part of its 'America First' policy, have impacted Lesotho’s health sector, leading to layoffs and concerns over the future of critical HIV/AIDS programs.