Fareed Zakaria

We let the world know that we're a big, open, generous country. And some of that is funding plays and movies, and some of it is, and most of it is food and medicine. And it was always a matter of great pride to me that the United States did that. And it's very sad that it's, for now at least, gone away.

We let the world know that we're a big, open, generous country. And some of that is funding plays and movies, and some of it is, and most of it is food and medicine. And it was always a matter of great pride to me that the United States did that. And it's very sad that it's, for now at least, gone away.

You know, I think that one of the ironies here is that I do believe, as you do, that American aid was never entirely about geopolitics and geostrategy. Part of it, I think, came out of a kind of deep, high Protestant impulse of... Saving the world. And I think it is one of the central messages of Christianity that, you know, all human beings are equal in the eyes of God.

You know, I think that one of the ironies here is that I do believe, as you do, that American aid was never entirely about geopolitics and geostrategy. Part of it, I think, came out of a kind of deep, high Protestant impulse of... Saving the world. And I think it is one of the central messages of Christianity that, you know, all human beings are equal in the eyes of God.

And, you know, it is incumbent on the rich to look after the poor. I mean, I've always been struck by the—if you read the Sermon on the Mount, if you read Paul's letter to the Galatians, it is—that's what Christianity is about. It's like, you know—

And, you know, it is incumbent on the rich to look after the poor. I mean, I've always been struck by the—if you read the Sermon on the Mount, if you read Paul's letter to the Galatians, it is—that's what Christianity is about. It's like, you know—

Vance's version of it. Right, which to me is bizarre. And yet here you have this Christian administration neglecting what strikes me as the central tenets of Christianity, which are, you know, be nice to poor people, help people who are in need, the Good Samaritan, all that stuff. And this was our one expression of it.

Vance's version of it. Right, which to me is bizarre. And yet here you have this Christian administration neglecting what strikes me as the central tenets of Christianity, which are, you know, be nice to poor people, help people who are in need, the Good Samaritan, all that stuff. And this was our one expression of it.

For every $100 the federal government spent, we were saying we're going to give $1 To clothe the naked and feed the hungry.

For every $100 the federal government spent, we were saying we're going to give $1 To clothe the naked and feed the hungry.

I've heard people— And just to push back, USAID was audited 60 times in the last year.

I've heard people— And just to push back, USAID was audited 60 times in the last year.

And by the way, that play was not a USAID spend. It was an American ambassador who decided to help to fund a cultural festival in Ireland. So much of this is misinformation.

And by the way, that play was not a USAID spend. It was an American ambassador who decided to help to fund a cultural festival in Ireland. So much of this is misinformation.

And there is a big bureaucracy and there is waste. No question about it.

And there is a big bureaucracy and there is waste. No question about it.

Well, and he was corrected by the Pope.

Well, and he was corrected by the Pope.

Yeah. You know, if you think about the mood now is this macho realism. You know, Trump is about doing deals. We don't worry about all these values. You know, we're just going to do what's best for America. We're going to use our surplus power. All of that evokes this kind of 19th century realpolitik.

Yeah. You know, if you think about the mood now is this macho realism. You know, Trump is about doing deals. We don't worry about all these values. You know, we're just going to do what's best for America. We're going to use our surplus power. All of that evokes this kind of 19th century realpolitik.