By Qi Qian

Recently, U.S. Democratic Senator Chris Murphy harshly criticized the Trump administration in an interview, "Trump attempting to seize control of power and for corrupt purposes." He specifically pointed to Musk's leadership of the Department of Government Efficiency and its actions against federal agencies, particularly targeting the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), alleging that Musk's motives were to appease China for economic gains.

Murphy warned that Trump's leadership would violate the Constitution, claiming it represents the most significant constitutional crisis the U.S. has faced since Watergate. He argued that Trump's reforms, including freezing USAID foreign aid projects, have placed the country in a red alert state. Murphy accused Trump of allowing billionaires to take over the government, suggesting that the president aims to control spending to reward political allies and punish foes, which he described as a desecration of democracy.

He further criticized this approach as worse than fully supporting political violence or pardoning Capitol rioters, asserting that Trump is attempting to intimidate opponents by threatening federal funding and instilling fears of physical violence.

Murphy also targeted Musk, trying to connect the internal struggles of the U.S. government with China. He claimed that this situation significantly undermines America's global security while benefiting China, asserting that China views USAID unfavorably. According to Murphy, Musk's substantial business interests in China led him to act in ways that please the Chinese government.

Murphy's accusations echo sentiments from other U.S. politicians. Recently, Delaware Senator Chris Coons remarked that dismantling USAID represents "America's retreat," calling Musk's attempts to dissolve the agency a "gift" to China and Russia.

Shortly after Trump's victory in November last year, the question of whether Musk, who has significant investments in China, would influence U.S. policy toward China during Trump's second term became a topic of heated discussion and skepticism among many American lawmakers and politicians.

However, according to a report by the South China Morning Post on Jan. 14, Chinese experts, including Wang Jisi, founding director of the Institute of International Strategic Studies at Peking University, and Zhang Yuyan, a member of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, expressed skepticism. At a roundtable forum on U.S.-China relations and global order after the U.S. elections held by Tsinghua University on Jan. 12, Wang stated that based on his interactions with American counterparts, he believes it is still uncertain whether Musk will have a positive impact on U.S.-China relations.

Wang mentioned that Musk has many collaborations with China, understands the Chinese people, and has visited China multiple times. He added, "Of course, I hope this is a good thing. After all, he is a businessman, a very experienced businessman who has crossed into politics. We cannot equate one person's attitude toward China with the entire U.S. policy."

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) was established in 1961 during President John F. Kennedy's administration and is the largest single aid agency in the world, employing around 10,000 people globally. For decades, it has been responsible for implementing U.S. foreign aid and development programs, providing billions of dollars annually to alleviate poverty, treat diseases, and respond to famine and natural disasters.

According to the Congressional Research Service, despite potential discrepancies, USAID is estimated to have managed over US$40 billion in allocations for the fiscal year 2023, assisting around 130 countries, with Ukraine being its largest recipient last year.

However, for a long time, the agency has often been accused of interfering in the internal affairs of other countries. The British newspaper The Guardian has reported that USAID has long supported infiltration and subversive actions against Cuba. Since 2009, USAID and its contractors, under the guise of projects, secretly sent young people from other Latin American countries to Cuba to engage in anti-government activities.

After Trump began his second term on Jan. 20, he immediately signed an executive order to pause all U.S. foreign aid for 90 days.

On Feb. 1, the USAID website became inaccessible, and its account on the X platform was taken offline. On Feb. 2, Trump and Musk launched a barrage of criticism against USAID. Trump called the agency "run by a bunch of radical lunatics," while Musk labeled it a criminal organization.

Shortly after midnight on Feb. 3, many USAID staff received emails informing them that they would no longer need to report to the agency's headquarters in Washington, D.C. The email stated, that USAID headquarters will be closed to staff on Feb. 3, 2025, with some employees allowed to work remotely, while a few responsible for essential tasks would receive separate notifications.

On Feb. 9, Musk stated that media outlets such as "Voice of America" and "Radio Free Europe," which act as the U.S. government's mouthpiece, waste large sums of taxpayer money funding "far-left state media" and should all be shut down.

Besides, Musk also criticizes that, apart from the suffocating bureaucracy, Europe is now free, and no one is listening to them anymore. This is just a bunch of radical leftist lunatics talking to themselves while wasting US$1 billion of American taxpayer money each year.

(Source: Guancha.cn)

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