Musk drove fringe viewpoints on USAID into the mainstream on X as the Trump administration halted the humanitarian relief agency’s work.

Summary

Elon Musk amplified conspiracy theories about USAID, calling it “evil” and a “criminal organization,” leading to its shutdown under Trump.

USAID, historically bipartisan, has faced criticism, but Musk’s claims—largely derived from fringe influencers like Mike Benz—gained traction on X.

Trump has signed an order freezing foreign aid, slashing USAID’s workforce. False accusations of fraud and biowarfare links fueled the decision, impacting global humanitarian efforts.

Aid deliveries are now halted and international relief efforts disrupted, demonstrating the real-world effects of misinformation.