Right-Wing Crusade Against USAID Has Been Fueled by Falsehoods

A false video claiming that the United States Agency for International Development paid actors like Ben Stiller and Angelina Jolie to travel to Ukraine spread on X, a platform known for spreading Russian disinformation, and was reposted by Elon Musk and Donald Trump Jr. The video led to attacks on U.S.A.I.D., with Musk calling it a “criminal organization” as part of a campaign to dismantle the agency. Misinformation about U.S.A.I.D. grants, such as claims about funding to media outlets like Politico, the BBC, and The New York Times, circulated online, fueling conspiracy theories and false narratives propagated by right-wing influencers and politicians.

Full Article