Bush, Obama, Bono bid farewell to USAID: 'Colossal mistake'
Share this @internewscast.com


Former Presidents Obama and George W. Bush, along with U2’s Bono, are reportedly sending off U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) staffers with a poignant video tribute.

The ex-commanders in chief and the “With or Without You” singer appeared via teleconference on Monday to speak with employees on USAID’s final day as an independent agency, The Associated Press reported.

In March, the Trump administration moved to formally end USAID, terminating employees and merging all remaining functions into the State Department beginning on Tuesday. President Trump has accused USAID which was created in 1961 by former President John F. Kennedy and codified by Congress in 1998 of being “incompetent” and “really corrupt.”

Referring to the evisceration of the international agency by the Trump administration as a “colossal mistake,” Obama told staffers in a recorded statement, “Your work has mattered and will matter for generations to come.”

“Gutting USAID is a travesty, and it’s a tragedy,” Obama said, according to the AP.

“Because it’s some of the most important work happening anywhere in the world,” the 44th president said.

“Sooner or later,” Obama said, “leaders on both sides of the aisle will realize how much you are needed.”

In his recorded remarks, Bush credited USAID’s staff with showing “the great strength of America” through their work.

“Is it in our national interests that 25 million people who would have died now live?” Bush asked. “I think it is, and so do you,” he said.

Bono, an international and humanitarian aid advocate who’s been a frequent presence on Capitol Hill over the years, reportedly read a poem he had penned about the moves to dismantle USAID. 

“They called you crooks. When you were the best of us,” the rocker said.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Historic Milestone: Record-Breaking Journey Reaches Unprecedented Stop in Orlando

ORLANDO, Fla. – For one NBA enthusiast, the term “March Madness” has…

Unveiled: Chilling Notes and Drawings Expose Sinister Murder Plot at Lake Brantley High School

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – In a significant development in an attempted murder…

Treasury Department Assumes Control of Student Loans Amid Education Department Restructuring

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a historic move, the U.S. Department of Education…

Mike Will Made-It Unveils Star-Studded ‘R3SET’ Album After Nearly 10-Year Hiatus

NEW YORK – It’s been almost ten years since Mike Will Made-It…

Zelenskyy Dispatches Key Delegation to U.S. in Strategic Move to Revive Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks

KYIV – In a renewed push to end the ongoing conflict, Ukrainian…

Unprecedented Early Southwest Heat: A Stark Reminder of Escalating Global Warming Trends

In the heart of Washington, an unprecedented heat wave is sweeping across…

Greeneville Woman Sentenced to 40 Months for Involvement in Shocking Monkey Torture Video Conspiracy

In Greeneville, Tennessee, a local woman has been sentenced following her guilty…

Revitalize the Nolichucky River: How Tree and Berry Bush Planting is Transforming the Ecosystem

In UNICOI COUNTY, Tenn., a dedicated group of nature lovers has come…

Social Media Unmasks Bristol Resident Linked to Firearm Incident

A Bristol resident found himself under arrest on Thursday after reportedly brandishing…