Marco Rubio Disputes George Stephanopoulos’ Claim That Reducing Foreign Aid Led to Deaths

Rubio Defends Aid Cuts in Heated Exchange with George Stephanopoulos

Secretary of State Marco Rubio had a tense discussion with ABC News host George Stephanopoulos on Tuesday regarding President Donald Trump’s foreign aid cuts, which have stirred significant controversy.

On “Good Morning America,” Stephanopoulos pointed out that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) suspended foreign aid in February, impacting funds for humanitarian efforts globally. Rubio, who led the agency until early September, contended that the U.S. isn’t the sole cause of worldwide turmoil and tragedy.

“Are you really saying that no one has died because of these aid cuts? Is that what you’re claiming?” challenged Stephanopoulos.

Rubio dismissed the accusation, stating, “That’s absurd. People are dying because the U.K. hasn’t contributed enough, or because Canada hasn’t done anything at all. We should hold other nations accountable for their lack of foreign aid. What about China? They are the second-largest economy in the world.”

Stephanopoulos noted that Rubio seems to accept the reality of the foreign aid cuts. However, Rubio argued that in many regions, aid failed to reach those in need due to ongoing violence and conflict.

“It’s not accurate to say the U.S. is responsible for all the terrible events happening globally just because we reduced our aid budget,” he explained. “In many cases, the absence of aid is not solely due to U.S. cuts, but rather because wars prevent assistance from reaching the affected populations.”

Rubio asserted that the U.S. will continue to offer more foreign aid than ever but insists that taxpayer money won’t fund “corrupted” or ineffective programs.

“No one is dying because of U.S. assistance,” he reiterated. “People perish because gangs hijack aid, or because aid organizations fail to deliver properly. Other nations must step up their contributions. The U.S. still saves more lives than any other country, and we’re committed to doing that responsibly.”

DOGE had closed the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in February due to billions spent on left-leaning initiatives globally. In 2023, USAID allocated over $17 billion to international efforts, including distributing over 65 million condoms and 334,000 IUDs in 2022 to promote family planning.