By Charles Switzer
2:47pm PST, Feb 14, 2025
A Bizarre Question in the Oval Office
During a joint press conference with Indian Prime Minister
Narendra Modi, President
Donald Trump fielded an unusual and fawning question from a so-called "reporter." The individual not only praised Trump's presidency but also suggested that the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) played a role in rigging the
2020 election. This inquiry came amid ongoing legal battles surrounding Trump and
Elon Musk's efforts to slash government programs — including USAID, which has been all but dismantled under their administration.
Although some are wondering if this is a distraction measure to pull attention away from the cuts, the president gave a very revealing answer when asked what he thought of the claim.
Here are three key takeaways from the exchange.
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Trump Entertains the Conspiracy Theory
When asked if USAID played a part in election interference, Trump did not dismiss the idea. Instead, he suggested it was possible, saying: "So, it could've had a role. There were a lot of bad things that happened in 2020."
While he also claimed the 2024 election was too big to rig, he doubled down on past claims of election fraud and reiterated his desire for paper ballots, voter ID laws and single-day voting to "clean it up very, very well."
Trump's baseless allegations about the 2020 election being stolen have
long been debunked, but he continues to fuel conspiracy theories among his supporters.
USAID Gutted by Trump and Musk
Since returning to office, Trump and Musk have aggressively targeted USAID an independent agency responsible for distributing tens of billions of dollars in foreign aid annually.
Through a series of legally questionable actions, they have frozen funds and laid off staff effectively crippling the agency. Critics argue that their actions are motivated by political revenge, as Trump has falsely claimed
USAID played a role in election interference. Their moves have sparked multiple lawsuits challenging the extent of executive power, as USAID's funding was allocated by Congress.
Trump's Election Claims Continue
Trump's false claims of election interference have been a defining feature of his post-2020 political career.
He refused to concede defeat in 2020 and attempted to overturn the results — culminating in the January 6, 2021,
attack on the U.S. Capitol. Despite no evidence of
widespread voter fraud, he continues to push conspiracy theories about elections being rigged against him. His remarks about USAID further reinforce his narrative, ensuring that election denial remains central to his political strategy.
