Fareed Zakaria

But, you know, it's been one of the wonderful things that the United States has done in the world. Foreign aid barely existed before 1945. It's, again, one of these revolutions of foreign policy that America in large part initiated. And, you know, I think it is largely the impulse comes from the idea we're the richest country in the history of the world.

But, you know, it's been one of the wonderful things that the United States has done in the world. Foreign aid barely existed before 1945. It's, again, one of these revolutions of foreign policy that America in large part initiated. And, you know, I think it is largely the impulse comes from the idea we're the richest country in the history of the world.

It's also be a great thing for us to be the most generous country in the history of the world. Four out of every 10 humanitarian dollars spent in the world are spent by the United States. And most of USAID's budget is food and medicine. You're literally feeding the hungry, you're clothing sick people. I've seen this on the ground. The people who do work at USAID are

It's also be a great thing for us to be the most generous country in the history of the world. Four out of every 10 humanitarian dollars spent in the world are spent by the United States. And most of USAID's budget is food and medicine. You're literally feeding the hungry, you're clothing sick people. I've seen this on the ground. The people who do work at USAID are

These are people who moved to Mozambique or Ghana to learn how to get water filtration systems in there. They're getting paid $60,000, $70,000 a year. They're not doing it for the money. They're not doing it for the glory. They're doing it because they believe that the United States can have a kind of positive impact on the world.

These are people who moved to Mozambique or Ghana to learn how to get water filtration systems in there. They're getting paid $60,000, $70,000 a year. They're not doing it for the money. They're not doing it for the glory. They're doing it because they believe that the United States can have a kind of positive impact on the world.

And to see the agency gutted, the funding pulled, and these people demeaned and demonized, called a criminal enterprise. It's so sad. You know, I grew up in India and I saw so much of the USAID funding, which was exactly the kind of stuff that Doge demonizes, which was to say, I mean, there was a program where they'd show old American movies in the U.S.

And to see the agency gutted, the funding pulled, and these people demeaned and demonized, called a criminal enterprise. It's so sad. You know, I grew up in India and I saw so much of the USAID funding, which was exactly the kind of stuff that Doge demonizes, which was to say, I mean, there was a program where they'd show old American movies in the U.S.

consulate and a whole bunch of us would go there. And I remember, I mean, I went to, I saw It's a Wonderful Life and movies like that. And you know what? It made me fall in love with America.

consulate and a whole bunch of us would go there. And I remember, I mean, I went to, I saw It's a Wonderful Life and movies like that. And you know what? It made me fall in love with America.

I think that's always been America's great strength, which is that it's the Chinese who do these deals with an African country and with the dictator and say, you know, we'll build you a dam and in return for that, here's what we want. And by the way, you can take 10%. What American soft power has been, we let the world know who we are.

I think that's always been America's great strength, which is that it's the Chinese who do these deals with an African country and with the dictator and say, you know, we'll build you a dam and in return for that, here's what we want. And by the way, you can take 10%. What American soft power has been, we let the world know who we are.

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.