A complex relationship between former President Donald Trump's family members and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has emerged amid growing controversy over the agency's operations.

According to Daily Mail, both Melania Trump and Ivanka Trump utilized USAID funding for their personal initiatives during Trump's first presidential term, even as the former president now criticizes the agency for alleged corrupt spending practices.

Former First Lady Melania Trump's Be Best program and Ivanka Trump's Women's Global Development and Prosperity Initiative received substantial support from USAID.

The agency played a crucial role in funding these initiatives while simultaneously facing budget cuts under the Trump administration. Both women undertook separate trips to Africa with USAID support, where they publicly praised the agency's international development efforts.

Substantial aid flows to Trump family initiatives

USAID allocated $265 million annually to support Ivanka Trump's women's business initiative and its associated antipoverty program.

This significant investment facilitated various international projects, including workshops for women entrepreneurs in Colombia and support for cocoa farmers on the Ivory Coast. The agency's involvement extended beyond mere funding, as it actively participated in organizing and implementing these programs across multiple countries.

Former USAID administrator Mark Green accompanied Ivanka Trump during her April 2019 visit to Africa. Their itinerary included meetings with women entrepreneurs in Ethiopia and rural farmers on the Ivory Coast. These diplomatic missions showcased the agency's commitment to supporting Trump family initiatives while advancing international development goals.

Then-First Lady Melania Trump's 2018 African tour, which covered Ghana, Malawi, Kenya, and Egypt, heavily relied on USAID support.

The agency coordinated various aspects of her visits, including a major educational initiative in Malawi. USAID's national reading program donated 1.4 million textbooks to over 5,600 primary schools in the impoverished nation during her visit.

First family praise contrasts with current criticism

Melania Trump expressed strong support for USAID during her African tour. She stated, as quoted by the first lady:

I am so proud of the work this administration is doing through USAID and others, and look forward to the opportunity to take the message of my Be Best campaign to many of the countries, and children, throughout Africa.

The agency demonstrated early support for Melania Trump's Be Best initiative by becoming one of the first federal agencies to name an ambassador to her program. This appointment came shortly after she requested government agencies to designate liaisons to her initiative in May 2018, highlighting the close working relationship between USAID and the Trump family.

These historical connections stand in stark contrast to former President Trump's current stance on the agency. His administration has recently announced plans to either shut down USAID or place it under State Department control, leading to hundreds of contractors being placed on unpaid leave or terminated.

Agency faces uncertain future amid restructuring

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has assumed the role of acting director of USAID, signaling a significant shift in the agency's leadership structure. The Washington D.C. office has been closed, with employees either furloughed or instructed to work remotely. This organizational upheaval reflects the administration's broader efforts to restructure federal agencies.

Former President Trump has expressed strong criticism of the agency, stating that it has been operating under "radical lunatics" who need to be removed. His press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, has also presented detailed critiques of USAID's spending practices, particularly focusing on expenditures related to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

Elon Musk, who heads Trump's Department of Government Efficiency program, has indicated that USAID will be eliminated entirely. This dramatic shift in policy represents a complete reversal from the previous support the agency received during Trump's first term when it actively funded and promoted his family members' initiatives.

Present-day implications unfold

The relationship between the Trump family and USAID faces renewed scrutiny as the agency undergoes significant changes. Despite previous collaboration and public praise from both Melania and Ivanka Trump, USAID now confronts an uncertain future under the current administration's reorganization plans.

These developments highlight the complex interplay between political priorities and international aid programs, raising questions about the long-term impact on global development initiatives.

The ongoing transformation of USAID reflects broader changes in U.S. foreign aid policy, as the administration seeks to reshape federal agencies according to its current priorities. This evolution demonstrates how quickly institutional relationships can change, even when built on years of successful cooperation and mutual support.