Musk Condemns USAID as ‘Criminal,’ Trump Decries Leadership as ‘Radical Lunatics’

In an explosive denunciation, billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk lambasted the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), branding it a “criminal organization.” Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump intensified the attack, asserting that the agency has been commandeered by “radical lunatics” and hinting at its potential dismantling.
Musk, the high-profile owner of Tesla and SpaceX, made his incendiary remarks on Sunday via his X platform. Responding to a video alleging USAID’s entanglement in covert CIA operations, Musk did not hold back.
“USAID is a criminal organization,” he proclaimed, adding to the firestorm of controversy surrounding the agency. Shortly thereafter, he escalated his assertions, posing a question to his 215 million followers: “Did you know that USAID, using YOUR tax dollars, funded bioweapon research, including Covid-19, that killed millions of people?” His claims, however, lacked supporting evidence and have been linked by officials from a previous administration to a Russian disinformation campaign.
Trump, who has grown increasingly aligned with Musk’s views on governmental reform, reinforced the allegations during a Sunday address.
“USAID has been run by a bunch of radical lunatics, and we’re getting them out… and then we’ll make a decision on its future,” he stated, offering no further clarification.
In a separate comment, Trump expressed unreserved support for Musk, declaring, “He’s doing a good job.”
Since returning to the political stage, Trump has moved to freeze all foreign aid disbursements for three months. While he later authorized exemptions for food and essential humanitarian relief, aid organizations report ongoing uncertainty regarding the agency’s long-term survival as an autonomous entity.
USAID, which was founded by congressional mandate, administers an annual budget of $42.8 billion, primarily allocated for humanitarian aid and development initiatives worldwide. However, insiders suggest that the Trump administration’s prioritization of “emergency assistance” could be a prelude to a broader strategy to eliminate funding for non-emergency operations altogether.
Speculation abounds that Trump aims to absorb USAID into the State Department, a move that would significantly diminish its independence. The Trump campaign has yet to comment on these reports.
In a late-night discussion on his X platform—held at 12 a.m. Washington time (0500 GMT Monday)—Musk asserted that Trump was on board with shutting USAID down.
The session featured notable figures, including businessman Vivek Ramaswamy and two Republican senators, and centered around Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). This newly formed entity, purportedly established to slash federal expenditures, remains shrouded in ambiguity regarding its authority and oversight.
Musk claimed that “tremendous progress” had already been made, vowing to tackle what he labeled “fraud and waste.”
“If we can cut the deficit in half—from two trillion dollars to one trillion—and match that with economic growth, then inflation will be non-existent,” Musk asserted.
DOGE operates under the executive office of the president as a temporary, 18-month initiative repurposed from the United States Digital Service. However, it lacks formal recognition as a government agency, and Musk holds no official status as a federal employee or policymaker. Questions remain regarding DOGE’s accountability, as its chain of command is unclear.
Reports indicate that two senior security officials at USAID were placed on involuntary leave after preventing DOGE personnel from accessing classified information. Further revelations from PBS suggest that DOGE members attempted to infiltrate secure government facilities. The Trump campaign dismissed these allegations, with senior aide Steven Cheung labeling the PBS report as “completely false.”
As scrutiny intensifies, USAID’s official X account has been deactivated, and its website remains offline. This abrupt disappearance has fueled concerns about the agency’s fate under the current administration.
Democratic Senator Chris Murphy condemned what he termed the “total destruction” of USAID, while Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez delivered a scathing rebuke.
“The people elected Donald Trump to be President—not Elon Musk,” Ocasio-Cortez wrote on X. “Having an unelected billionaire, with his own foreign debts and motives, raiding US classified information is a grave threat to national security.”
As tensions escalate, the future of USAID hangs in the balance. With Trump and Musk leading an unprecedented charge against one of America’s foremost humanitarian organizations, the next moves from the administration will be closely watched by both domestic and international stakeholders.
AFP