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Trump’s 'Nobody Knows Lesotho' Comment Sparks Outrage

Lesotho's government has expressed shock over U.S. President Donald Trump's remark that "nobody has ever heard of" the country while addressing Congress on budget cuts, including $8 million for LGBTQI+ programs in Lesotho. 

Foreign Affairs Minister Lejone Mpotjoane called the statement "shocking" and pointed out Lesotho's strong ties with the U.S., including trade relations under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and the presence of a U.S. embassy in Maseru. Officials dismissed Trump's remarks as "off the cuff" and a "political statement", adding that they were "uncalled-for" given the good relations between the two nations.

Lesotho has one of the highest rates in the world of HIV/AIDS, which the U.S. has sought to address by providing medication and other social support, including raising awareness among sexual minorities who face stigma. Lesotho, a beneficiary of U.S. aid programs like PEPFAR, has been affected by Trump's broader funding cuts.

InFocus

VOA

A map of Lesotho.

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