A fiery clash has erupted between U2 frontman Bono and President Trump’s efficiency chief Elon Musk over the impact of recent U.S. foreign aid reductions. Bono accused the administration of being responsible for over 300,000 preventable deaths, primarily children, due to the abrupt halting of critical food and medical aid.
Bono voiced his concerns during a podcast interview, highlighting how non-governmental organizations were forced into impossible decisions—cutting off entire regions from lifesaving support. He argued that the moral consequences of the funding cuts are being ignored in favor of budget optics.
Musk, who helped implement the cuts through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), responded by slamming Bono online, calling him a “liar” and “idiot,” and insisting that “zero people have died” from the policy change. His remarks have intensified the debate and drawn criticism from humanitarian advocates.
Supporters of the aid reductions argue that the funding had become bloated and mismanaged, while critics insist that lives were lost due to disrupted access to essential care and nutrition. The White House has defended the policy as a necessary move to cut federal waste, though it has sparked international concern over America’s retreat from its humanitarian commitments.
The high-profile feud has drawn global attention, underscoring the tension between cost-cutting measures and the real-world consequences they may impose on vulnerable populations.