Former GOP Congresswoman Liz Cheney faced sharp criticism from conservatives on social media after defending her previous work at USAID, which has recently become a primary target of DOGE. The exchange on X caught the attention of DOGE leader Elon Musk. “Damn right, @Elon,” Cheney said on X in response to Musk, tagging an account that does not belong to Musk, on Wednesday. “I’m proud of what America did to win the Cold War, defeat Soviet communism, and defend democracy. Our nation stood for freedom. You may be unfamiliar with that part of our history since you weren’t yet an American citizen.”
Musk responded with “interesting” to a post by Mike Benz, Executive Director of Foundation For Freedom Online, who claimed that Cheney was “spawned” out of USAID, referencing her previous role at the now embattled and seemingly closed agency. Cheney had worked at USAID in embassies focused on efforts in Poland, Hungary, Russia, and Ukraine, Fox News reported.
Some conservatives on social media criticized Cheney’s comment and defended Musk against any suggestion that he is “unfamiliar” with U.S. history. “He is an American by choice instead of by birth, which is a weird thing to insult someone over, but more importantly, he didn’t commit so many crimes against the country that he had to be pardoned by Joe Biden, so he’s got that going for him,” Federalist Editor-in-Chief Mollie Hemingway posted on X.
“You care more about illegals coming to this country stealing from this country than @elon giving to this country,” former Georgia state Rep. Vernon Jones posted on X. Fox News contributor Joey Jones posted on X as well: “Ya, but he was around when your daddy was making the military industrial complex billions sending me and my buddies to die chasing the ghosts of WMDs in Iraq.”
“Love the anti-immigrant sentiment from Liz,” Right Turn Strategies President Chris Barron posted on X. “Funny how they always end up being everything they claim their opponents are.” Twitchy.com editor Samantha Janney posted: “The fact Elon said a single word and was able to set you off tells me a lot, Liz. What’s also revealing is your connection to USAID. Damn proud of WY for firing you.”
“What a xenophobe,” Breitbart senior editor Joel Pollak posted on X. “Pure bigotry.” Benz noted on X earlier this week: “From Liz Cheney to Barack Obama, a lot of people still don’t appreciate how much of America’s political aristocracy class grew up in USAID families.”
The online debate about Cheney’s time at USAID follows Musk’s DOGE efforts, which have led to the agency being effectively shut down due to what the Trump administration claims is wasteful spending. “For decades, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has been unaccountable to taxpayers as it funnels massive sums of money to the ridiculous — and, in many cases, malicious — pet projects of entrenched bureaucrats, with next-to-no oversight,” the White House noted on Monday, according to Fox.
Trump designated Secretary of State Marco Rubio to take over management of USAID after moving the once-independent foreign aid agency under State. “The president made me the acting administrator,” he told Fox News. “I’ve delegated that power to someone who is there full time, and we’re going to go through the same process at USAID as we’re going through now at the State Department.”
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