Chelsea Clinton Lashes Out at MAGA for Spreading USAID Conspiracies About Her
Chelsea Clinton took to X on Monday to fact-check a viral conspiracy that purported she and/or her family was gifted $84 million from the the United Stats Agency for International Development (USAID).
'Lies and conspiracies about my family and me are nothing new. Still, I am particularly troubled by the absurd claims that continue to pervade social media this week, fact checks be damned,' the disgruntled former First Daughter wrote.
USAID—which is currently in a state of semi-dissolution thanks to the efforts of Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—was tasked with providing humanitarian aid to over 100 countries across the globe. According to the Congressional Research Service, the agency had about $40 billion in funds in the 2023 fiscal year. The agency's funding went to programs ranging from HIV/AID treatments to clean water access.
But recently a spate of right-wingers online have claimed that Clinton, the daughter of Democratic former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton, received $84 million in taxpayer money from USAID. Some versions of the theory said that the entire Clinton family was involved in the scheme.
Either way, the claims were false, according to fact-checking website Snopes. The only Clinton family associated venture to receive any money from USAID is the Clinton Health Access Initiative, which took home $7.5 million from the agency in 2019 to fund a slate of health services in the African nation of Zambia, according to USASpending.gov. Notably, Trump was president when the funding was dispersed.
Clinton does not receive any personal compensation as a board member of the nonprofit, tax records show.
The flurry of accusations first spawned from social media users on Feb. 5. after it was amplified by Musk, and quickly spread to right-wing pundits and media outlets who parroted the viral claims.
One tweet, posted on Feb. 6, read: 'oh boy the DOGE people are finding all the goodies lurking in the Swamp,' adding: 'Now you see why democrats don't want @elonmusk to pull that sheet off? Corruption everywhere!'
Another, posted the day before, read: 'What shady govt spending should we investigate next?'
Yet another demanded justice and read: 'We must demand accountability and justice for these crimes.'
Chelsea this week lashed out at the chatter. Her post continued:
'Facts: I'm proud of the Clinton Foundation work that has helped tens of millions of people worldwide. Our impact speaks for itself. I don't take a cent from the Foundation. Never have. In fact, my family personally contributes meaningfully to our work each year.'
Adding: 'Misinformation isn't just noise—it's a weapon. Efforts to undermine good work won't stop us, and we stand in solidarity with those who are committed to truth, public health, progress, and the endless potential of our future.'
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