U.S. President Donald Trump has made comments that have stirred reactions from Lesotho, a small African kingdom that apparently isn’t on many people’s radar, according to Trump. His remark, made during a recent speech to Congress, painted Lesotho as an obscure nation—a sentiment that Foreign Minister Lejone Mpotjoane was quick to challenge.
Reacting to the U.S. President’s statement, Minister Mpotjoane expressed his surprise and disappointment. He emphasized that the United States maintains an embassy in Lesotho, which should denote some level of recognition. “It is surprising and disappointing that he claimed no one knows Lesotho,” Mpotjoane said. He went on to advise Trump to “speak for himself and not generalize,” underscoring that Lesotho’s importance cannot be dismissed.
Mpotjoane suggested that Trump’s comments might be due to Lesotho’s economic status, pointing out, “One day America may need Lesotho’s support.” Notably, the small nation has been on the radar of Trump’s notable advisor, Elon Musk. In stark contrast to Trump’s remarks, Musk, whose Starlink venture under SpaceX has applied for an operational license in Lesotho, has treated the country with great interest. The Lesotho Communications Authority confirmed receiving Starlink’s bid for a decade-long license.
Musk, originally from neighboring South Africa, recently met with Lesotho’s Prime Minister Sam Matekane during the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The meeting was framed as promising by Matekane, who wrote on social media about “exciting developments” ahead.
Meanwhile, Trump criticized specific U.S. foreign aid endeavors, remarking, “Eight million dollars to promote LGBTQI+ in the African nation of Lesotho, which nobody has ever heard of.” He made this statement while struggling with the pronunciation of the country’s name, with Vice President JD Vance and House Speaker Mike Johnson visibly amused.
The reduction of U.S. foreign aid, spearheaded by Musk in his capacity leading the new Department of Government Efficiency, has tangibly affected Lesotho’s health sector. Noteworthy is the peril posed to the country’s robust HIV program, a direct consequence of the downsizing of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) which has been a longstanding financial support, contributing $44 million last year alone. The cuts have resulted in the layoff of around 1,500 health workers, about 7% of the nation’s health care workforce.
When asked about the funding for LGBTQI+ projects cited by Trump, Lesotho’s foreign minister clarified his unawareness of the referenced $8 million contract, pointing out that USAID funding commonly flows through non-governmental organizations. Lesotho, having repealed its anti-homosexuality laws in 2012, still does not recognize same-sex marriages, and advocacy groups continue to highlight the discrimination faced by the LGBTQ community in the country.
Trump’s dismissive remarks are not an isolated instance in his diplomatic discourse concerning Africa. Previously, he has derogatorily referred to certain African nations, underscoring a history of controversial opinions towards the continent.
