US President Donald Trump criticized foreign aid spending during his speech to Congress on Tuesday, questioning why $8 million was given to Lesotho to promote LGBTQ+ rights. He dismissed the African nation, saying, "Nobody has ever heard of it," and called such spending unnecessary and wasteful.

Lesotho's government reacted strongly, condemning Trump's remarks. Foreign Minister Lejone Mpotjoane said they were "shocked and embarrassed," adding that they never expected a world leader to speak this way about another sovereign nation. He also confirmed that Lesotho will send an official letter to the US government to protest the statement and express their disappointment.

The US has an embassy in Maseru, the capital of Lesotho, and American volunteers work in the country as part of the Peace Corps programme. Adding to the controversy, Lesotho’s leading LGBTQ+ rights group, People's Matrix, denied receiving any US funding. Spokesperson Tampose Mothopeng said, "We are not receiving grants from the US. We have no idea where this $8 million claim is coming from."

Many people also criticized Trump's remarks on social media. Journalist and activist Kananelo Boloetse responded with sarcasm, saying, "Lesotho is the only country in the world that is completely above 1,000 meters in elevation, higher than your approval ratings ever got."

He wrote this on X (formerly Twitter) and added, "We're here, we're proud, and we're not your punchline."
Lesotho is a small country completely surrounded by South Africa, often called the "Kingdom in the Sky" because it is the only independent nation entirely above 1,000 meters (3,281 feet) in elevation. It has a constitutional monarchy, meaning it has a royal family, but an elected prime minister runs the government. 

Most of Lesotho’s land is not suitable for farming, leading to frequent food shortages, and many citizens work in South Africa to support their families. The country’s biggest natural resource is water, often called "white gold," which is exported to South Africa. Lesotho is also known as the "Denim Capital of Africa" because its factories produce denim for brands like Levi’s and Wrangler. Also, Prince Seeiso of Lesotho is a close friend of the UK's Prince Harry, and together they co-founded Sentebale, a charity that helps young people affected by HIV/AIDS.

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