President Donald Trump sparked controversy when he claimed that no one had ever heard of the African nation of Lesotho while criticizing US foreign aid programs during his address to a joint session of Congress.

Speaking on March 4, 2025, Trump focused his speech on reducing federal spending, lambasting USAID initiatives from the previous administration as a “disgraceful waste” of taxpayer money.

As part of his remarks, he highlighted several programs targeted for cuts by the newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk.

Turning his attention to Lesotho, Trump criticized USAID for allocating $8 million to LGBTQI+ initiatives to the landlocked nation in southern Africa.

“$8 million to promote LGBTQI+ in the African nation of Lesotho—which nobody has ever heard of,” he said.

The insult on Lesotho is not an isolated incident.

Donald Trump has made several controversial statements over the years that have been widely criticized as contemptuous toward African nations and Black people.

Here are five notable instances:

1. “Shithole countries” remark (2018)

During a meeting on immigration policy at the White House, Trump referred to African nations, Haiti, and El Salvador as “shithole countries,” questioning why the US should accept immigrants from those places instead of countries like Norway.

The remark sparked international outrage, with the African Union and multiple governments condemning his words as racist.

2. Nigerians “won’t go back to their huts” (2017)

The New York Times reported that during a meeting about immigration, Trump allegedly said that once Nigerians entered the United States, they would never “go back to their huts” in Africa.

The comment reinforced stereotypes about Africans and was widely criticized for its racist undertones.

3. Obama birther conspiracy (2011-2016)

For years, Trump was the loudest voice in the baseless “birther” movement, falsely claiming that Barack Obama, the first Black US president, was not born in the United States.

This conspiracy was widely seen as an attempt to delegitimize Obama’s presidency by associating him with Africa and portraying him as foreign.

4. Telling Black voters they “have nothing to lose” (2016)

During his 2016 campaign, Trump attempted to appeal to Black voters by saying:
“You’re living in poverty. Your schools are no good. You have no jobs. Fifty-eight percent of your youth is unemployed. What the hell do you have to lose?”

The statement was widely criticized as patronizing and painting Black communities in a negative light, ignoring systemic inequalities and reducing their struggles to a simplistic narrative.

5. Revoking US visas for Africans after saying they bring “AIDS” (2017)

According to The New York Times, Trump reportedly said during an Oval Office meeting that Haitian immigrants “all have AIDS” and that Nigerian immigrants would never “go back to their huts” after entering the US.

While the White House denied these reports, multiple sources confirmed the remarks, further fueling accusations of racism.

Trump’s latest comments about Lesotho continue a pattern of controversial statements regarding African nations and Black communities.