The Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), under Elon Musk's leadership, is reviewing the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)'s spending, sparking reactions both domestically and internationally.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjártó, in an interview with Fox News Digital, expressed his disapproval of USAID's operations under the previous Biden administration. He accused the agency of attempting to destabilize other nations by funding programs that clash with their cultural heritage and of targeting Hungary for its conservative stance.
Former President Joe Biden (Chris Kleponis/CNP/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Szijjártó welcomed the 90-day review period for USAID payments. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a Trump ally, also criticized USAID after reports emerged about the agency funding Politico. Orbán alleged that USAID, under the previous US administration, financed media outlets to criticize patriotic political movements.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that over $8 million in taxpayer funds went to Politico, although the publication denied receiving government funding. Musk, leading DOGE, characterized USAID as a hub of anti-American Marxists. The White House released a list of alleged examples of USAID's wasteful spending, including funding tourism in Egypt, DEI programs in Serbia, and a "transgender opera" in Colombia, as well as supporting poppy cultivation in Afghanistan, allegedly benefiting the Taliban.
Elon Musk (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
The White House emphasized that these were just a few examples and vowed to end such practices under President Trump.
President-elect Donald Trump and Elon Musk (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
