In a recent post on X by Evan Mantri, a critical perspective was shed on the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), revealing a narrative that goes far beyond the conservative talking points regarding its funding of transgender surgeries in Venezuela. While the right often criticizes USAID for what they perceive as wasteful spending on such projects, Mantri argues that this is merely the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the agency’s controversial activities.
USAID, funded by taxpayer dollars, has been implicated in what Mantri describes as “countless crimes against humanity.” Among these allegations, the most shocking include USAID’s alleged role in funding gain-of-function research in Wuhan, which many link to the origins of the global health crisis. Additionally, Mantri points to USAID’s involvement in the tumultuous political landscape of Ukraine, suggesting the agency played a part in the 2014 coup that led to the overthrowing of the government, a move that has had lasting geopolitical repercussions.
Further deepening the controversy, USAID is accused of engaging in election rigging, which undermines democratic processes worldwide. In Latin America, the agency’s actions have allegedly extended to the persecution of populist leaders like Brazil’s former president, Jair Bolsonaro, through lawfare, or the use of legal systems to delegitimize and remove political opponents. This tactic, according to Mantri, has been used against none other than the US President, indicating an internal conflict that questions the sovereignty of the nation’s leadership.
Moreover, USAID’s influence isn’t confined to political machinations abroad. Mantri highlights the agency’s role in funding and organizing what he terms a “multi-billion dollar global censorship industrial complex,” both internationally and within the United States. This complex, he argues, serves to stifle dissent and control narrative dissemination, aligning with pro-regime views and marginalizing opposition voices.
The funding doesn’t stop at censorship; USAID is also accused of supporting terrorist groups, a claim that escalates the narrative from political manipulation to outright support for violence. This funding extends to thousands of anti-populist, pro-regime mainstream media outlets across numerous countries, which, according to Mantri, are used to spread propaganda and slander against any form of public dissent or opposition.
Mantri emphasizes that the issue transcends the mere “wastefulness” of 1.7% of the federal budget allocated to USAID or even the potential misuse through slush funds, laundering, and kickbacks. He portrays these activities as part of a broader, sinister strategy, describing USAID’s operations as “intentionally evil and criminal,” engaged in what amounts to warfare against humanity itself.
This perspective, while extreme, invites a reevaluation of how foreign aid is perceived and the roles organizations like USAID play on the global stage. It challenges the notion of aid as purely humanitarian, suggesting a complex web of political, economic, and ideological agendas that might not align with the interests of the taxpayers funding them or the global populace at large.
