The government of Lesotho has expressed its astonishment regarding comments made by US President Donald Trump, who stated that “nobody has ever heard of” the southern African country.
During his first address to the US Congress upon returning to the Oval Office, Trump mentioned Lesotho while discussing reductions in what he described as wasteful spending.
“Eight million dollars to promote LGBTQI+ in the African nation of Lesotho, which nobody has ever heard of,” Trump remarked, prompting laughter from certain lawmakers in the US.
A representative from Lesotho’s foreign affairs department conveyed to the BBC that the country maintains “warm and cordial” relations with the US.
Lesotho is a beneficiary of the US African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa), which provides favorable trade access to select countries to support their economic development.
Foreign Affairs Minister Lejone Mpotjoane expressed that it was “shocking” for a leader to “refer to another sovereign state in such a manner.”
“To my astonishment, ‘the country that nobody has heard of’ is home to the US’s permanent mission,” Mr. Mpotjoane shared with the BBC.
“Lesotho is a UN member and participates in several international organizations. Additionally, the US maintains an embassy here, and numerous US organizations operate in Maseru.”
Officials characterized Trump’s comments as “off the cuff” and a “political statement,” asserting that such remarks were “uncalled-for” considering the positive relations between the two countries.
“We share very warm and cordial relations with the US. They have a mission in Maseru, and we also have one in Washington,” foreign affairs spokesperson Kutloano Pheko stated to the BBC.
Mr. Pheko was unable to verify Trump’s claims regarding the funding to LGBTQ organizations, indicating that those organizations would be in a better position to respond, as the funds were directed to them.
Furthermore, Mr. Mpotjoane acknowledged that the country had been impacted by Trump’s abrupt decision to halt aid funding to nations globally.
Many organizations, predominantly non-profit, faced turmoil after the Trump administration announced a permanent cessation of the US President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (Pepfar) as part of broader spending cuts aimed at reducing US government expenditures.
Pepfar, established in 2003 by former US President George W. Bush, allocates its funding through USAID, the primary overseas aid agency of the US government, which has also experienced budget reductions.
According to Lesotho’s health ministry, as reported by South African publication GroundUp in February, the country was among those that benefited from Pepfar, receiving vital funds for TB and HIV programs.
However, Mr. Mpotjoane refrained from criticizing this decision, stating that it is the US’s “right to cut aid if they choose to.”
