Former U.S. President Donald Trump has raised alarming claims regarding billions of dollars being misused within the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), accusing it of paying for positive media coverage of Democrats. His remarks came alongside an announcement from the White House that it would halt its “subsidy” of media outlet Politico, particularly its premium subscription service, Politico Pro.
Trump’s accusations were made public on Truth Social, where he suggested that USAID and other government agencies had used taxpayer money to fund media outlets that produced favorable stories about the Democratic Party. He specifically pointed to Politico, accusing the outlet of receiving “payoffs” amounting to $8 million for promoting positive coverage of the Democrats. Trump further questioned whether other media giants like The New York Times and the Associated Press were similarly benefiting from government funding.
In response, Politico denied the allegations, stating that it had never received direct government subsidies and that the majority of its subscriptions come from private sector clients. The company clarified that the $8.2 million in payments to Politico in the last year came primarily from the Department of Health and Human Services, with a much smaller portion from USAID—only about $24,000.
Despite the denials from media organizations, conservative commentators and figures like Elon Musk have amplified the claims, with Musk labeling the payments a “huge waste of taxpayer money.” Musk, who is overseeing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), warned of a revenue decline for these media outlets due to a reduction in government funding.
The controversy surrounding USAID funding has unfolded against the backdrop of the Trump administration’s broader push for an “America First” policy, which led to a near-total freeze on foreign aid in January. Legal experts have raised concerns over the legality of dismantling USAID without approval from Congress, while the suspension of senior officials and cuts to various aid programs continue to stir debate.
