Global Leaders Praise Dismantling of U.S. Aid Agency as Shift in Power Dynamics

As the Trump administration pushes to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development, leaders from Russia, Hungary, and El Salvador express approval, viewing the agency's removal as beneficial to their authoritarian regimes.

When Elon Musk referred to "feeding U.S.A.I.D. into the wood chipper," it resonated well beyond the borders of the United States, finding support among political leaders with authoritarian inclinations. Russian officials, Hungarian prime ministers, and the President of El Salvador all welcomed the Trump administration's actions against the U.S. Agency for International Development (U.S.A.I.D.), an entity they have long considered a rival in the arena of international influence.

In Moscow, Dmitri A. Medvedev, a prominent figure in Russian politics and former president, endorsed the decision, signaling a historical resentment toward U.S.A.I.D., which had been forced to withdraw from the country in 2012. On social media, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban described the cut as a victory against “globalist” institutions, celebrating what he sees as a move towards national sovereignty. His political insiders echoed this sentiment, showcasing a collective glee at the policy shift.

Meanwhile, Nayib Bukele, the Salvadoran leader known for adopting strong-arm tactics in domestic governance, criticized U.S.A.I.D. funding as having been misallocated to opposition groups and NGOs with particular political motivations. This rhetoric underscores a common thread linking these leaders: a perception of U.S.A.I.D. as an entity that often destabilizes regimes unwilling to align with Western ideals.

As protests arose in Washington, D.C., in defense of the agency, authoritarian leaders elsewhere reveled in what they view as a significant weakening of an organization that has historically spotlighted governmental abuses in their nations, thereby threatening their grip on power. The dismantlement of U.S.A.I.D. marks a crucial moment that could redefine relationships and power dynamics on the global stage.