In a rare and powerful display of post-presidential unity, George W. Bush and Barack Obama have joined forces to voice their sharp disapproval of President Donald Trump’s sweeping cuts to international diplomacy. The two former commanders-in-chief contend that the administration’s aggressive reduction of global programs is a direct hit to vital U.S. national interests.
The criticism surfaced in a recent video featuring Bush, Obama, and U2 frontman Bono—a frequent critic of the current administration. The trio appeared together to commend the departing personnel of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the cornerstone diplomacy agency that Trump move to significantly curtail earlier this year.
Bush Defends Global Compassion
For George W. Bush, the issue is deeply personal. Since leaving office, he has remained a steadfast advocate for funding global health initiatives, particularly those aimed at eradicating AIDS and HIV in Africa. While Bush has largely maintained a policy of public silence regarding Trump since 2016, he used this platform to lament the loss of a workforce he credits with fostering global stability.
The programs in question are credited with saving an estimated 25 million lives over the past twenty years.
