In brief
The dismantling of U.S.A.I.D. by Elon Musk has been welcomed by authoritarian leaders in Russia, Hungary, and El Salvador, who see the move as a significant reduction in U.S. intervention in their political affairs.
In a striking endorsement of Elon Musk's recent actions against the U.S. Agency for International Development (U.S.A.I.D.), foreign leaders from authoritarian regimes have expressed their approval. Musk's comments about "feeding U.S.A.I.D. into the wood chipper" resonated with figures in countries such as Russia, Hungary, and El Salvador, where the agency's influence has previously been regarded as a threat.Dmitri A. Medvedev, the deputy chairman of Russia's security council and former president, remarked positively on Musk's actions, reflecting long-held grievances in Moscow regarding U.S.A.I.D.’s impact. In his words, it was a "smart move" echoing sentiments harbored since the agency was expelled from Russia in 2012. Hungary's Prime Minister, Viktor Orban, who maintains close ties with Russia’s Vladimir Putin, posted his approval on social media, calling it a strike against “globalist” organizations. His political director echoed this sentiment, praising Musk and Trump’s efforts, an endorsement that Musk signaled support for by reposting it.El Salvador's President, Nayib Bukele, shared similar views, criticizing U.S.A.I.D. for allegedly funding "opposition groups, NGOs with political agendas, and destabilizing movements." The leaders of these nations appeared to celebrate a perceived shift in U.S. foreign policy that may allow for greater autonomy from international scrutiny.As criticisms of U.S.A.I.D. echoed in Washington, where supporters rallied in front of the agency’s headquarters, the strongmen of the world reveled in what they consider a diminishing of a once thorny foreign oversight that often highlighted government missteps against global democratic norms.
