Lesotho Government Responds to Trump’s Controversial Remarks

The government of Lesotho has expressed surprise and disappointment after U.S. President Donald Trump referred to the country as a place “nobody has ever heard of” during a speech on Tuesday.

Trump made the remark while discussing budget cuts, specifically mentioning an $8 million expenditure aimed at promoting LGBTQ+ rights in Lesotho. His statement drew laughter from some U.S. lawmakers.

Responding to Trump’s comment, Lesotho’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Lejone Mpotjoane, criticized the remark, highlighting the strong diplomatic ties between the two nations.

“To my surprise, ‘the country that nobody has heard of’ is home to a permanent U.S. mission,” Mpotjoane said. “Lesotho is a recognized member of the United Nations and several other international organizations. The U.S. has an embassy in our capital, Maseru, and multiple American organizations operate within our borders.”

Lesotho benefits from the U.S.-sponsored African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which provides preferential trade terms to support economic development.

Despite the controversy, Lesotho’s foreign affairs spokesperson, Kutloano Pheko, emphasized that diplomatic relations between the two countries remain positive.

“We maintain warm and cordial relations with the U.S.,” Pheko told the BBC. “The U.S. has a diplomatic mission in Maseru, and we also have representation in Washington.”

When asked about the LGBTQ+ funding mentioned by Trump, Pheko stated that the government was not directly involved in managing those funds and that relevant organizations would be better suited to comment.

Mpotjoane also confirmed that Lesotho, like other nations, has been affected by Trump’s recent decisions to halt certain aid programs worldwide.

While Lesotho officials dismissed Trump’s remark as a “political statement,” they described it as unnecessary given the longstanding cooperation between the two nations.

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