U2 frontman Bono faced fierce pushback on “The Joe Rogan Experience” podcast after claiming the Trump administration’s disbandment of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) caused 300,000 deaths. Rogan and Elon Musk quickly challenged the singer’s claim, calling it baseless and untested.
Bono argued that recent USAID cuts left tens of thousands of tons of food “rotting” in warehouses from Djibouti to Houston, with aid workers laid off. “What is that? That’s not America, is it?” Bono asked. Rogan responded bluntly, saying, “They’re throwing the baby out with the bathwater,” while acknowledging that while some aid work was effective, USAID had become a “money laundering operation” plagued by corruption and waste.
Musk weighed in after the episode aired, posting on X: “He’s such a liar/idiot,” dismissing Bono’s claims outright.
Bono’s 300,000 figure traces back to a speculative model by Brooke Nichols, a mathematical health modeler at Boston University. Nichols clarified that her projection was not based on confirmed deaths but rather an estimate of what could happen due to USAID cuts. She admitted to significant uncertainties, including how different countries and organizations might have adapted to the funding reductions.
Critics of USAID have long pointed to its lack of accountability and inefficiency, arguing that U.S. taxpayer dollars have too often been squandered on ineffective or corrupt foreign programs. Bono’s broadside against Trump and USAID has sparked new debate about the role of U.S. foreign aid and the reliability of speculative death tolls used to justify massive spending.
Bono’s appearance on Rogan’s podcast reignited scrutiny over the effectiveness and transparency of U.S. foreign aid programs. Critics argue that USAID, like many large government agencies, has become bloated, inefficient, and prone to waste, with billions of dollars funneled into programs that often fail to deliver meaningful results. Rogan highlighted these concerns, saying the agency had become a “money laundering operation” with “trillions unaccounted for.”
Musk’s blunt response on X reflects a growing skepticism among influential voices about the true impact of large-scale international aid efforts. Many argue that aid programs can create dependency, fuel corruption, and often fail to reach the people they’re meant to help. The backlash against Bono’s claims shows a rising demand for accountability, transparency, and results from organizations like USAID, especially when such bold figures—like 300,000 deaths—are thrown around without solid evidence.
The conversation also underscores the cultural divide between globalist activists like Bono, who champion massive aid programs, and critics who believe such efforts often serve elite interests rather than the needs of ordinary people. The clash between these viewpoints is shaping the future of U.S. foreign policy and will likely remain a heated debate as elections approach and aid programs face renewed scrutiny.
