Bono Schools Joe Rogan Over Elon Musk Support: DOGE Cuts “Pure Evil”

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U2 frontman schooled podcaster Joe Rogan on his frequent support and defense of Elon Musk.

The performer talked about how the Trump administration’s policies, along with the Department of Government Efficiency headed by Musk, were considering reductions to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). This agency is known as a major provider of international aid to over 120 countries, primarily through initiatives like food programs, water sanitation projects, and medical assistance for infectious diseases. The impact of these efforts is frequently recognized for saving lives at a very small cost – just pennies on the dollar.

Since the early 1980s, Bono has been embarking on humanitarian journeys to Africa and various countries, and he’s had a long-standing association with USAID. He referenced a study suggesting that budget cuts to the department could lead to over 300,000 deaths globally – with more than 200,000 of these being children who are malnourished, suffering from malaria and pneumonia. According to him, these reductions have already caused essential supplies like food, water, and medical aid to be delayed due to significant staff layoffs.

Bono stated, ‘Food is spoiling in boats and storage facilities.’ There’s around 50,000 tons of this food. Those who had the access codes, tasked with dispersing the aid, were dismissed. Isn’t that contrary to America’s values?

Bono expressed his understanding that some might advocate for reducing large-scale government, but he cautions that drastic reductions in widely supported charitable programs are already causing severe problems.

Bono expresses a sense of sorrow and anger as he describes the act of dismantling essential life-sustaining systems, saying it felt like they were being ripped out with delight. He recounted a tale from Christianity Today, where an aid worker lamented their inability to provide for every child, stating, ‘We don’t have the funds, so we must decide which child to remove from life support.’ Bono questions whether the term ‘evil’ is too strong, but suggests that whatever causes such destruction and disregard for human life, particularly children, can be likened to evil. He believes it takes pleasure in the loss of life and the waste of potential. However, he maintains hope, asserting that it’s not too late for people to make a difference.

Bono mentioned that he’s made efforts to discuss this matter with Secretary of State Marco Rubio. However, according to the singer, Rubio seems skeptical, suggesting that people are not yet dying from this issue.

Rogan forcefully disputed USAID’s claims, labeling it as an “operation for laundering money” that allegedly lost “unimaginable amounts,” with no accountability or proof of transactions.

Moreover, Rogan stated, “However, it’s crucial to note that we also contribute positively to the world. For instance, building wells for people in Congo to access clean water, providing food and medicine to areas without these necessities – such aid should never be discarded. This point should have been made clear before making drastic cuts. There must be a means to preserve aid and eliminate fraud.

Rogan pointed out, “Interestingly enough, despite Elon Musk’s suggestions and the DOGE committee’s proposals, there haven’t been any reductions in the budget. Nothing has been trimmed.

Musk posted a clip of Bono and fired back on X: “He’s such a liar/idiot. Zero people have died!”

Musk and Rubio’s repeated assertion that no one has yet died might imply that they are speaking about the projected number of deaths (300,000) instead of stating that these deaths have actually taken place.

In a story from Christianity Today that Bono referenced, workers on site claim funding reductions have occurred and predict that children’s lives will soon be lost if nothing changes. One aid worker stated, “I believe we can anticipate rising death rates, spreading infections, and growing despair unless things are addressed.” Notably, Bono’s comment about removing children from IVs was a forecast rather than a current report on the situation. However, Brooke Nichols — a mathematician and infectious diseases professor at Boston University who developed the prediction model — asserts that tens of thousands have tragically already perished due to these circumstances.

After dedicating a considerable amount of time to HIV research, I had expected the greatest impact to arise from this field,” Nichols said to The Times UK. “However, I was staggered by the number of child deaths caused by diseases such as diarrhea, pneumonia, and malnutrition. It’s devastating to realize that tens of thousands of children have perished due to our withdrawal of funding for programs addressing these very issues.

In essence: Humanitarian workers contend that the Trump administration’s actions are already causing significant harm on the ground, though there’s some disagreement about how many lives have been lost so far. However, everyone seems to concur that the proposed budget cuts (which could potentially reduce USAID spending by 80%) will be catastrophic and may lead to hundreds of thousands of deaths if enacted fully or if no action is taken soon.

Earlier, Bill Gates criticized Elon Musk in much the same way over the reduction of funding for The Financial Times, stating, “It’s not a pleasant image to see the wealthiest person in the world endangering the lives of the most impoverished children.

The news emerges at a time when Elon Musk has relinquished his White House position, following a New York Times article suggesting that the billionaire frequently used ketamine and other substances while managing DOGE. Musk has dismissed the report as falsehood, arguing that the numerous meetings and photographs he was involved in would preclude such behavior from being feasible.

In the podcast, Bono also cautioned against the tendency toward isolationism shown by the Trump government as a whole.

During the podcast discussion, Bono expressed his concern about the isolationist tendencies displayed by the Trump administration.

Or:

On the podcast, Bono spoke out against the isolationist leanings of the Trump administration.

Bono emphasized that Americans should remember not only their physical size but also the immense nature of their nation’s concept. He explained that this idea is so vast, it could encompass the entire world. However, when America begins to feel more like an isolated island than a sprawling continent, it loses its unique spirit.

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2025-05-31 18:54