Melania Trump, Ivanka Trump promoted USAID programs which are now called 'fraud' by Donald Trump

The first lady of the United States Melania Trump and the president's daughter Ivanka Trump had promoted USAID's work in developing countries during the first term of the Trump administration, as per a report.

While, US President Donald Trump has lately called USAID a "tremendous fraud," claiming that the agency operates as a fraud in handling taxpayer money, as per reports.

Melania focused on education and healthcare programs, while Ivanka headed efforts to empower women, reported ABC News.


On Melania's first solo international journey as the first lady in 2018, she praised USAID programs during visits to Africa, including education support and efforts to combat climate change. She stressed that America's investments abroad are important for those countries as it helped to provide "economic opportunities", reported ABC News.

Melania had said "We care, and we want to show the world that we care, and I've partnered and am working with USAID," during a visit to Egypt as first lady to promote her partnership with USAID.

Ivanka collaborated with USAID as well, especially on initiatives like the Women's Global Development and Prosperity Initiative, which anticipated support for 50 million women in developing nations by 2025.

But in recent actions, the Trump administration has moved to dismantle USAID, putting many of its employees on administrative leave and criticizing the agency for alleged mismanagement. This marks a new departure from earlier Trump family endorsements, leaving many in the foreign aid community confused by the drastic shift in tone and policy, as per the report.

A former senior USAID official said "It's very disturbing and clearly it's all politics," as quoted by ABC News. "Until you see [the work of USAID] firsthand, it's very difficult to understand and explain. You leave a different person."

FAQs

What is USAID?
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is a US government agency that provides foreign aid and assistance to help improve the lives of people in developing countries. Its work focuses on areas like education, healthcare, economic development, disaster relief, and promoting democracy.

Why has president Trump criticized USAID?
Recently, president Trump has referred to USAID as a "tremendous fraud," criticizing the agency for allegedly mishandling taxpayer money and lacking oversight, which contrasts with the praise it received from his family in the past.