USAID Is Gone: How it Controlled Global Narratives

President Trump, together with DOGE Chief Elon Musk dismantled USAID, calling it a “really corrupt and incompetent“ agency.

On paper, USAID was a U.S. foreign aid agency, helping countries in need. In reality, it funded media outlets, trained journalists, and shaped narratives across the globe, claiming to be aligned with the U.S. geopolitical goals.

With USAID gone, the media ecosystem it controlled is in shambles. So, what was USAID’s real role in media manipulation, and how did it go rogue? Let’s dig in.

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Inside USAID: Power, Propaganda, and Controversy

USAID didn’t just hand out aid packages—it built a media empire, channeling hundreds of millions into news outlets and journalists worldwide.

In 2023 alone:

• 6,200 journalists received USAID funding or training

• 707 media outlets were funded, from Ukraine to Latin America

The 2025 U.S. foreign aid budget allocated $268.4 million to promote “independent media and information freedom”

Sounds noble, right? But here’s the twist: USAID’s media funding was less about “independence” and more about pushing narratives aligned with the politics of those in power.

Narrative Control or Supporting Free Press?

Some of USAID’s media projects were celebrated for supporting the free press. Others… not so much.

Here’s where it gets interesting:

• Ukraine: USAID was the largest media donor, shaping coverage on corruption and conflict, and even anti-Russia propaganda.

• Hungary & Poland: USAID-funded media critical of nationalist governments.

• Cuba: The infamous ZunZuneo project was a covert attempt to create a Twitter-like social network to sow political unrest in Cuba. It became one of USAID’s biggest PR disasters when it was exposed.

It looks like USAID was in the business of writing the headlines and not merely funding the news.

The Void: What Happens When the Money Stops?

When Trump dismantled USAID, it didn’t just kill an aid agency—it left a huge power vacuum in the global media landscape:

• Many media outlets in Eastern Europe (mainly Ukraine) and Latin America lost their primary funding source. Some may shut down within weeks.

• The dismantling exposed how heavily some outlets relied on USAID funding.

• The critics, however, argue that the void will allow state-backed media from Russia and China to dominate global narratives.

Controversial Projects: When Media Becomes a Weapon

USAID wasn’t just supporting free speech—it was engineering narratives that blurred the lines between diplomacy and propaganda.

• Voter “Education” in Africa: Media campaigns disguised as educational programs conveniently supporting U.S.-friendly candidates.

• Democracy Promotion in Central Asia: Critics call them regime-change operations under the banner of democracy building.

• Funded projects to support the LGBTQ+ community around the world.

• Allegations of funding “terror charities“ and failure to provide proper oversight for funds allocated to Pakistan and Palestine.

These projects fueled decades of skepticism about USAID’s true purpose, leaving many to wonder how much of its work was about development—and how much was about control.

Our Take

USAID’s fall is a classic example of soft power gone rogue:

• For decades, it funded media and shaped public opinion under the banner of press freedom.

• But with its sudden dismantling, we’re left asking: Was it a champion of free media, or the ultimate narrative controller?

• And now that it’s gone, the battle for global narrative control has only just begun.

As always, follow the money, and you’ll find the truth.

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