Billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk has voiced support for former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta’s stance on former U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to halt foreign aid. Musk’s endorsement comes amid growing debate over the implications of Trump’s executive order to realign U.S. foreign assistance policies.
Upon taking office on January 20, Trump swiftly signed an executive order to reassess and restructure U.S. foreign aid, emphasizing that American taxpayer dollars should yield direct benefits for the country. This move led U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to suspend all foreign assistance through the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) for further review.
During the East Africa Region Global Health Security Summit at the Princeinn Paradise Beach Resort & Convention Center in Mombasa, Uhuru Kenyatta addressed the policy shift. He remarked that while some nations expressed discontent, Trump was within his rights to prioritize American interests.
“Why are you crying? It’s not your government, it’s not your country,” Uhuru stated, drawing enthusiastic applause from the audience. He elaborated that Trump had no obligation to extend aid to other nations, particularly when the beneficiaries did not contribute to American tax revenues.
Rather than lamenting the decision, Kenyatta urged African nations to perceive it as a wake-up call and explore self-sustaining solutions for funding critical programs. “Instead of crying, we should ask ourselves, ‘What are we going to do to support ourselves?’” he posed. Kenyatta underscored the abundance of resources across Africa, criticizing their frequent misallocation and calling for better governance in resource utilization.
Musk, known for his candid opinions on global affairs, took to his X account to endorse Kenyatta’s perspective, simply commenting, “Good for him.” Musk’s support aligns with his broader advocacy for economic efficiency and self-reliance.
Trump, recognizing Musk’s business acumen, had previously appointed him to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an initiative aimed at cutting wasteful spending, eliminating excessive regulations, and optimizing federal operations. However, Musk’s involvement in the Trump administration has been met with mixed reactions. A recent Quinnipiac University survey revealed that 53% of respondents opposed the Tesla and SpaceX CEO holding a prominent role in government.
As discussions on foreign aid policies continue, Kenyatta’s remarks and Musk’s endorsement fuel an ongoing conversation about economic independence, international assistance, and strategic resource management. Whether African nations will heed Kenyatta’s call for self-sufficiency remains to be seen, but the discourse has undoubtedly gained a high-profile advocate in Elon Musk.
