Lesotho’s Foreign Minister Lejone Mpotjoane has described US President Donald Trump’s remarks about the country as “unfortunate” and extended an invitation for him to visit.
Addressing the US Congress on Tuesday, Trump dismissed Lesotho as a nation “nobody has ever heard of” while criticising US foreign aid spending.
His comment, made while referencing an $8 million LGBTQ+ programme in Lesotho, drew laughter from lawmakers.
Mpotjoane responded on Wednesday, calling the statement “quite insulting.”
“I’m really shocked that my country can be referred to like that by the head of state,” he said.
He added: “Lesotho is a significant and unique country, and I would be happy to invite the president, as well as the rest of the world, to visit.”
Trump’s administration has aggressively cut foreign aid, aligning spending with his “America First” policy.
Mpotjoane acknowledged that US funding supports various sectors in Lesotho, including health and agriculture.
While the government is working toward self-sufficiency, he noted that cuts to health aid have had a significant impact.
JN/APA