This was unexpected.
In a dramatic display of political unity, former Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama have teamed up to criticize President Donald Trump’s bold overhaul of foreign aid spending, specifically the shutdown of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
During an emotional videoconference farewell, both ex-presidents voiced their disapproval of the Trump administration’s decision to eliminate USAID as an independent agency and fold it into the State Department, part of a sweeping effort to reduce government waste and cut taxpayer-funded foreign programs.
Trump Dismantles USAID, Sparks Establishment Outrage
The reorganization was announced in early February as part of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—a cost-cutting initiative led by Elon Musk and endorsed by President Trump. According to the White House, the move is intended to put America First, ensuring every tax dollar spent abroad serves U.S. national interests.
President Trump didn’t mince words, calling USAID “a disaster run by radical lunatics.” Musk, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), went even further, calling it “a criminal organization that misused billions.”
USAID staff were reportedly locked out of their offices and dismissed via mass email. Critics called the handling abrupt—but supporters saw it as a long-overdue correction to a bloated bureaucracy.
Obama and Bush Defend Status Quo Globalism
In sharp contrast, Obama called the closure “a colossal mistake,” while Bush defended his foreign HIV/AIDS program, saying, “Is it in our national interest that 25 million people who would have died now live? I think it is, and so do you.”
Globalist voices like Bono, the Irish rock star and longtime USAID supporter, joined the farewell call, choking back tears as he praised the agency’s workers as “the best of us.” Former leaders from Liberia and Colombia, along with U.S. diplomats from the Obama era, also appeared to lament the agency’s end.
USAID: Billions Abroad While Americans Struggle at Home
Founded in 1961 under President John F. Kennedy, USAID spent billions of American taxpayer dollars on foreign programs in health, education, and economic development. But critics say the agency lacked accountability, operated with minimal oversight, and often failed to deliver measurable results.
For decades, foreign governments received U.S. aid even while American veterans, seniors, and rural communities struggled.
Now, under Trump’s America First plan, foreign assistance will fall under stricter control through the State Department, with a new, streamlined initiative expected to launch this week.
New “America First” Aid Policy Prioritizes U.S. Interests
In a statement to the Associated Press, the State Department emphasized that the new approach will include tight oversight, efficiency audits, and clear alignment with U.S. strategic goals. Every dollar spent overseas will now be scrutinized to ensure it serves American citizens—not corrupt regimes or special interests abroad.
This marks a historic realignment of foreign policy priorities, placing American taxpayers, national security, and domestic economic growth above feel-good internationalism.
Conclusion: A Clear Contrast Between Trump and the Old Guard
As President Trump continues to drain the swamp and redirect government resources back to the American people, it’s no surprise that establishment figures like Bush and Obama are protesting.
But for millions of patriotic Americans—especially those who lived through decades of unchecked foreign aid—the decision to rein in global spending and put America first is not only welcome, it’s long overdue.
