Lesotho Government: "We Want to Invite Trump"
Offensive Remarks Directed at Canada, Haiti, and Other Countries
A Strengthened 'Madman' Strategy... Used as a Bargaining Tool
On the 4th (local time), U.S. President Donald Trump visited the U.S. Congress for the first time since beginning his second term and delivered a joint address to both the House and Senate. Photo by AP and Yonhap News
U.S. President Donald Trump sparked international controversy by referring to the African country Lesotho as a "country nobody knows" during a congressional speech. The Lesotho government protested the remark as insulting, leading to friction with the U.S. government. Some interpret President Trump's aggressive rhetoric toward other countries since taking office not merely as a personal trait but as a deliberate diplomatic strategy aimed at leveraging negotiations with those countries.
Lesotho Foreign Minister: "Trump's Remarks Are Insulting, We Want to Invite Him to Lesotho"
On the 4th (local time), during his first joint session address to Congress since beginning his second term, President Trump stated, "Eight million dollars (about 1.16 billion KRW) have been spent to promote the LGBTQI+ community in Lesotho, an African country nobody has ever heard of." This comment was intended to argue that U.S. foreign aid funds are being wasted on unnecessary places, which caused some in the audience to burst into laughter.
The Lesotho government immediately responded. Lesotho Foreign Minister Lejone Mpoutoaheane described President Trump's remarks as "very insulting" in a media interview, saying, "It is truly shocking that our country would be referred to in such a way by a head of state." He added, "Lesotho is a unique and important country worldwide, and we would like to invite President Trump and people around the world to visit our country."
He also emphasized that U.S. aid to Lesotho is not solely used to support the LGBTQI+ community. Minister Mpoutoaheane explained, "Most of the U.S. aid plays a crucial role in Lesotho's health and agriculture sectors, with only a portion of the U.S. Embassy's funds supporting the LGBTQI+ community."
Within the United States, criticism has also arisen that President Trump's remarks excessively belittle developing countries. The Washington Post (WP) pointed out, "Lesotho has a population of 2.3 million, making it larger than Slovenia, the native country of First Lady Melania."
Lesotho, at the center of the controversy, is a constitutional monarchy located at the southern tip of Africa, having gained independence from British colonial rule in 1966. It has a population of about 2.3 million and a land area of 30,335 km², which is actually larger than Slovenia's area of 20,271 km². Its main industry is garment manufacturing, producing clothing such as jeans for major brands like Levi's and Gap.
Internationally, Lesotho is known as the country with the highest HIV/AIDS infection rate. According to the U.S. Department of State, about 20% of the adult population in Lesotho is infected with AIDS. Since 2006, the U.S. government has provided approximately 1 billion dollars (about 1.44 trillion KRW) in medical aid for AIDS prevention, treatment, and management services on a humanitarian basis.
To Canadian Prime Minister: "Welcome to Governor's Meeting"... Various Offensive Remarks Since First Term
President Trump's foreign disparagement controversies have recently spread widely, including during talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. On the 28th of last month, during a 40-minute debate with President Zelensky at the White House, Trump repeatedly said "You have no cards" six times and then effectively expelled him by canceling the dinner and remaining schedule.
In December last year, before taking office, Trump sparked controversy by referring to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as the "51st governor of the United States." On his social media platform Social Truth, Trump mocked Trudeau by posting, "If Trudeau attends the governor's association meeting, he will be very welcome," continuing diplomatic friction with Canada.
During the U.S. presidential election in September last year, Trump faced criticism for saying during a television debate with Democratic Vice Presidential candidate Kamala Harris that "Haitian immigrants eat pets like dogs and cats." Following this remark, various threats and acts of terrorism against Haitian residents occurred in Springfield, Ohio, where many Haitian-Americans live.
During his first term, Trump also caused diplomatic friction with Japan, one of the most friendly countries to the U.S., through offensive remarks. In June 2018, during a summit with then Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Trump said, "We have not forgotten the Pearl Harbor attack," which intensified controversy. It is known that Trump made this remark to pressure Japan amid unresolved disagreements over trade deficits and trade agreement negotiations.
More Frequent Use of the Strengthened 'Madman' Strategy... Exploited as a Bargaining Tool
A cargo ship entering the Port of Long Beach, California, a major trade port on the US West Coast. Photo by AFP and Yonhap News.
Some analysts suggest that President Trump's continued aggressive rhetoric toward other countries is a calculated act. His unique 'madman theory'?a strategy of enforcing his claims through unpredictable, harsh, and aggressive language?has become even stronger. The madman theory is a term in international politics referring to deliberately portraying one's country as threatening and unstable to intimidate other countries and extract diplomatic concessions.
The U.S. foreign affairs magazine Foreign Policy (FP) noted, "President Trump extensively used the madman strategy during his first term, so now he must use even stronger and more unpredictable rhetoric to unsettle other countries," adding, "While this may yield diplomatic gains through outrageous threats, there is also a risk that conflicts with other countries could spiral out of control."
The Associated Press (AP) also explained, "Since taking office, President Trump has made aggressive threats regarding tariffs and implemented unexpected waivers. His goal is to keep allies and other countries uncertain about what the U.S. is truly trying to achieve."
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