Irish music star Bono has drawn criticism from proponents of President Donald Trump's Make America Great Again (MAGA) campaign after quoting an expert who suggested that 300,000 fatalities may have been caused by the administration's cuts to USAID.
Elon Musk, the former head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), called Bono “a liar/idiot” after he made the assertion during an interview on Joe Rogan's well-liked podcast broadcast on Friday.
The second Trump administration, which came to power in January, directed to shut down USAID and even placed a halt to most international aid payments, but this move was halted in court.
Critics warned the changes would affect some of the world's most disadvantaged, while supporters claimed they saved American taxpayers money that was being wasted.
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Here's what Bono said
Bono, a founding member of U2, recently appeared on the Joe Rogan Experience and stated: “Just recent report, it's not proven, but there's surveillance enough [to] suggest 300,000 people have already died from just this cut off, this hard cut, of USAID so there's food rotting in boats, in warehouses, this will f*** you off.”
{{/usCountry}}Bono, a founding member of U2, recently appeared on the Joe Rogan Experience and stated: “Just recent report, it's not proven, but there's surveillance enough [to] suggest 300,000 people have already died from just this cut off, this hard cut, of USAID so there's food rotting in boats, in warehouses, this will f*** you off.”
{{/usCountry}}“There is 50,000 tons of food that are stored in Djibouti, South Africa, Dubai, and wait for it Houston, Texas, that is rotting rather than going to Gaza, rather than going to Sudan, because the people who know the codes for the warehouse are fired, they're done,” he added.
Bono seemed to be referring to a study by Brooke Nichols, a quantitative modeler of infectious diseases at Boston University, who found that USAID cuts could have caused 300,000 fatalities, including 200,000 children, that could have been avoided.
Trump fans took to social media to express their outrage at Bono's allegation, including Elon Musk, who on Friday received a big key from the president as a token of gratitude as he resigned from the daily operations of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Regarding Bono, Musk wrote on X, “He's such a liar/idiot. Zero people have died!”
In addition, well-known conservative X pundit Catturd said: “Elon Musk calls out low IQ moron Bono for being an idiot and a liar.”
Trump, Musk supporters call out Bono
Mike Benz, executive director of the Foundation For Freedom Online advocacy group, posted a video of Bono's comments and stated, “These USAID numbers are f***** faker than their COVID numbers.”
In addition, well-known conservative X pundit Catturd said: “Elon Musk calls out low IQ moron Bono for being an idiot and a liar.”
“Bono wants taxpayers to fund the world’s problems while he ducks his own bill in Ireland. A textbook hypocrite,” one more stated.