Sun Feb 09 12:30:00 UTC 2025: ## Cheney Slams Musk Over USAID Criticism: “You Weren’t Yet an American Citizen”

**Washington, D.C.** – Former Republican Congresswoman Liz Cheney engaged in a heated exchange with Elon Musk on X (formerly Twitter) Wednesday, criticizing his comments about her past work with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The spat follows the Trump administration’s decision to place most USAID employees on administrative leave, sparking controversy and political debate.

Musk, who re-posted a comment linking Cheney’s past to the agency, prompting Cheney’s sharp retort, highlighting Musk’s South African origins and his later naturalization as a U.S. citizen in 2002. Cheney defended her USAID work, emphasizing its role in winning the Cold War and promoting democracy. She implied Musk lacked the perspective to criticize the agency given his comparatively recent U.S. citizenship.

The controversy surrounding USAID intensified this week with the announcement that nearly all direct-hire personnel would be placed on leave, excluding essential staff. This decision has drawn strong reactions from both sides of the political spectrum.

Republican Senator John Kennedy defended the move, suggesting that the review of USAID spending was uncovering “interesting stuff,” aligning with President Trump’s intentions. Conversely, Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar condemned the actions, emphasizing USAID’s life-saving work and warning of devastating consequences for global aid programs.

International implications were also raised, with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán claiming on X that USAID had funded left-leaning media outlets in Hungary under previous administrations. This added another layer to the ongoing debate surrounding the agency’s role in U.S. foreign policy and its future under the current administration. Newsweek reached out to Musk for comment but received no response.

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