The United States Agency for International Development, commonly referred to as USAID, has faced criticism and acclaim from different members of the Trump family over the years. While former President Donald Trump labeled the agency as a 'tremendous fraud,' both his wife, Melania Trump, and daughter, Ivanka Trump, have previously championed programs backed by the same organization.
During a 2018 tour of Africa, then-First Lady Melania Trump spoke highly of USAID initiatives. As part of her 'Be Best' campaign, she visited several countries, emphasizing the successes of USAID's educational programs. In Malawi, Melania Trump participated in distributing educational supplies to students at the Chipala Primary School, praising the program's impact on children's opportunities and education.
Melania Trump’s admiration for USAID extended to cultural preservation efforts. In Egypt, she visited the Great Sphinx, witnessing firsthand a USAID-supported project aimed at protecting the historic site from environmental damage. This project showcased USAID’s commitment to collaborate with local governments in fostering economic opportunities and preserving cultural heritage.
Contrastingly, Donald Trump has taken steps to dismantle USAID’s initiatives, criticizing the agency's spending and oversight. His administration perceived USAID as lacking accountability, funneling taxpayer money into bureaucratic projects. These views are in stark opposition to the positive stance previously held by his family members, who actively promoted USAID projects during his presidency.
Ivanka Trump played a pivotal role in advocating for women's empowerment through USAID-linked initiatives. In 2019, she contributed to the launch of the Women's Global Development and Prosperity Initiative (W-GDP), a program aimed at empowering 50 million women globally by 2025. This initiative was anchored in USAID's efforts to support female entrepreneurs and promote economic independence for women in developing countries.
The W-GDP initiative underscored a vital link between women's empowerment and national security, with Ivanka Trump stressing the importance of gender equality in fostering global stability. During her visits to Africa, she engaged with female entrepreneurs, highlighting successful USAID projects, such as a cocoa farming initiative in Côte d’Ivoire and women-owned coffee businesses in Ethiopia.
As the Trump administration progressed, moves were made to curtail funding for such programs. Donald Trump's executive orders aimed to reduce government expenditures on diversity, equity, and inclusion, impacting USAID's operations. Recent decisions to place most USAID employees on administrative leave highlight a continued shift in policy, starkly contrasting previous endorsements from Melania and Ivanka Trump.
This dichotomy between support and criticism of USAID raises questions about the future of international aid under varying political views. The agency's mission to improve lives globally through development assistance remains significant, although its path forward seems uncertain in the face of conflicting political stances within the same family.