The State Department has accused the Associated Press of circulating misleading narratives regarding the Trump administration’s evaluation of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and assigning blame to Secretary of State Marco Rubio for child fatalities in Myanmar.
In remarks to Breitbart News, Tommy Piggott, the principal deputy press secretary, contended that the AP expects American taxpayers to “solve all the world’s problems.” He noted that “last month,” the State Department facilitated the acquisition of nearly $65 million from partner nations to assist the Rohingya population in Myanmar.
“The Associated Press seems to believe American taxpayers should address every global issue, which is simply unfeasible,” Piggott expressed. “While the U.S. is the most generous nation, others also need to step up. What the AP overlooks is that last month we secured about $65 million from our partners to aid Rohingya refugees.”
This statement from Piggott was reported by the Associated Press. In an October 8 article, Mohamed Taher, a father who lost his child, accused Rubio of misrepresenting facts to Congress, asserting that “no one died” due to the changes made in USAID by the Trump administration.
Taher is part of “Myanmar’s persecuted Rohingya minority,” according to the report.
On May 21, shortly after the tragic death of Taher’s infant son, Rubio stated in Congress that “nobody died” from the administration’s decision to downgrade foreign aid initiatives. He also claimed that “no children have died under my watch.”
In response, Taher said, “That’s false.” He continued, “I lost my son due to funding cuts. It’s not just me—many more children in various camps are dying from hunger, malnutrition, and lack of medical assistance.”
Taher’s sorrow resonates with families throughout the troubled regions of Myanmar. The United Nations estimates that 40% of the population requires humanitarian support, a situation exacerbated by the Trump administration’s revisions to USAID.
When asked who she held responsible for her child’s death, Taher attributed it to the U.S. government, stating they “have nothing without assistance,” the newspaper reported.
An individual identified as Victor, who is in charge of the emergency program for an aid organization, told the Associated Press that around 100 civilians have sought help from him since the U.S. suspended its program, but he is unable to provide assistance now.
While the AP’s article criticized the Trump administration’s changes to USAID, it noted that other nations, including the United Kingdom, Japan, and South Korea, have pledged millions to support Rohingya refugees.
In a statement earlier this September, James Kariuki, the UK’s deputy permanent representative to the UN, mentioned that the UK had “announced an additional $36 million to assist Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh,” focusing on their immediate needs, such as food and clean water.
During a significant meeting concerning Rohingya Muslims and other ethnic minorities in Myanmar, Kazuyuki Yamazaki, Japan’s Permanent Representative to the U.S., stated that Japan had signed an agreement with the World Food Program, contributing around $18 million for humanitarian aid in Bangladesh this year.
“Japan acknowledges Bangladesh’s ongoing support for over 1.1 million displaced individuals from Myanmar’s Rakhine State,” Yamazaki noted. “Through international collaboration, we are committed to aiding both Rohingya refugees and their host communities.”
State Department data indicates that 11 nations, including Japan and the UK, “increased aid to the Rohingya by more than 10% in 2025 when compared to the previous year under the Biden administration,” as reported.
Moreover, the Trump administration allocated $60 million for “supporting Rohingya refugees” in September.
A senior official from the State Department expressed frustration with media narratives suggesting the Trump administration bears full responsibility for humanitarian aid.
“We continue to urge nations worldwide to collaborate with the U.S. in providing support to vulnerable populations like the Rohingya refugees,” the official concluded.
