Lesotho shocked by Donald Trump’s remarks that ‘nobody has heard of the country’

The Lesoto government says it was shocked by US President Donald Trump, saying that he “has not heard by” the southern African nation.

Trump, who addresses the American conference in his first speech since his return to the Oval Office, indicated that he included the discounts that were made as he said was luminous expenses.

“Eight million dollars to reinforce LGBTQI+ in the African nation in Lesoto, which no one heard,” Trump said, laughing at some American lawmakers.

A spokesman for the Lesoto Ministry of Foreign Affairs told the BBC that Lesoto has “warm” friendly relations with the United States.

Lesotho is one of the largest beneficiaries of the African growth and opportunities of the United States, which provides positive commercial access to some countries to enhance their economic growth.

According to the government of the United States, the two countries traded the goods worth 240 million dollars (187 million pounds) in 2024, most of which are Lesoto exports to the United States, especially textiles and clothes.

Lesuto Legon, Mbut Joan, said that he was “shocking” to hear the head of state, “referring to another sovereign state in this way.

“For my amazement,” the country that no one has heard, “is the country in which the United States has a permanent mission.”

“Lesoto is a member of the United Nations and a number of other international bodies. The United States has an embassy here and [there are] A number of American organizations that we absorbed here in Masero. “

The officials rejected Trump’s statements as “outside the cuff” and “a political statement”, adding that they are “not educated”, given the good relations between the two countries.

“We maintain warm and black relationships [one] In Washington, “Foreign Affairs spokesman Cotroon and Fico said to the BBC.

Mr. Phelko was unable to confirm Trump’s comments on the financing that went to LGBTQ organizations, saying that with the money going directly to them, it would be better to put it for comment.

For his part, Mr. Mpotjoane confirmed that the country was affected by Trump’s sudden decision to stop aid financing to countries around the world.

Several organizations, most of them non -governmental, were thrown into chaos after the Trump administration announced a permanent end of the US President’s Emergency Emergency Plan PEPFAR as part of a broader campaign to reduce costs to reduce US government spending.

Pepfar was launched in 2003 by US President George W. Bush and his financial resources are distributed through the main foreign aid agency of the United States government, which was also reduced.

The Ministry of Health at Lesothho said among those countries that benefited from Pepfar.

But Mr. Mpotjoane refused to criticize this decision, saying that it was “the US concession to reduce aid if they want.”