Former USAID deputy leader James Kunder slammed Elon Musk’s “mafia takeover” of USAID on Christiane Amanpour’s CNN show on Thursday.
The former Republican appointee said, “What we have now is this insane Elon Musk-led mafia takeover...”
“American citizens who work for USAID in some of the most dangerous places in the world are being stripped of their job and insulted by the president of the United States, while we’re shooting ourselves in the foot, from a geostrategic point of view,” he said
ADVERTISEMENT
Kunder critiqued the idea that foreign aid is not in the U.S. national interest, saying, “I’m a Republican political appointee myself. I’m a Republican voter. And I understand national security is the primary reason why we have the U.S. Agency for International Development. I served in the United States Marine Corp.”
He emphasized that he is “all in favor of supporting America’s strategic objectives around the world,” saying, “That’s what USAID does. It works with our soldiers and diplomats around the world to make sure that people understand that America cares about them.”
He said that USAID’s mission has evolved, from a fight against “global communism” to one against “extremist ideas around the world” and “a rising China.”
He argued that USAID keeps America safe from these ideas, saying if foreigners “have a chance to feed their children, get a decent job, they’re less likely to join the extremist organizations that want to attack the United States.”
Kunder lamented the impact of dismantling USAID on America’s role in a changing geopolitical landscape, remarking, “I guarantee you they are celebrating… in Beijing right now.”
