The government of Lesotho has expressed deep shock and disappointment following comments made by U.S. President Donald Trump, in which he claimed that “nobody has ever heard of” the southern African nation.
Trump made the remark while addressing Congress for the first time since returning to office, using Lesotho as an example while highlighting what he called wasteful expenditure. He specifically referenced an $8 million allocation for LGBTQI+ programs in Lesotho, a statement that drew laughter from some U.S. lawmakers.
In response, Lesotho’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Lejone Mpotjoane, condemned the remark, calling it “shocking” and “disrespectful” to a sovereign state. “To my surprise, ‘the country that nobody has heard of’ is one where the U.S. has a permanent diplomatic mission,” he said.
Lesotho has maintained a longstanding relationship with the United States, benefiting significantly from trade agreements such as the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). The arrangement has facilitated trade worth approximately $240 million in 2024, with textiles and clothing making up the bulk of Lesotho’s exports to the U.S.
Despite Trump’s dismissive tone, officials in Lesotho have emphasized the strength of bilateral relations between the two nations. Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson Kutloano Pheko described the remarks as “off-the-cuff” and “unfortunate” given the diplomatic ties the countries share.
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Beyond trade, Lesotho has also been affected by Trump’s broader cost-cutting measures, particularly the decision to halt funding for the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
The initiative, which was originally launched in 2003 under President George W. Bush, has been instrumental in supporting HIV and TB programs in Lesotho. The sudden withdrawal of funds has left many non-governmental organizations struggling to sustain their health programs.
Despite this, Mpotjoane stopped short of directly criticizing the aid cuts, stating that it remains the U.S. government’s prerogative to allocate its resources as it sees fit. However, he made it clear that Lesotho would be lodging an official protest against Trump’s remarks.
“We are not taking this matter lightly,” Mpotjoane asserted, reaffirming that Lesotho is a recognized member of the United Nations and other global institutions. “We are a sovereign nation with a rich history and global partnerships, and we expect to be treated with the respect that entails.”
