Trump-Affiliated Lobbyists Profit as Aid to Poor Countries Slashed

Lacking traditional foreign-aid lifelines, some of the world’s poorest nations are now paying millions to lobbying firms connected to Donald Trump. A Global Witness investigation shows that 11 states, such as Haiti, Somalia, and Yemen, have signaled desperation by signing hefty deals.
Instead of humanitarian aid, governments are bartering critical resources—like cobalt and lithium—offering strategic concessions to secure US support. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is front and center, paying $1.2 million for lobbying by Ballard Partners in hopes of mineral access deals.
In other cases, Somalia and Yemen are paying BGR Government Affairs more than $900,000 between them. Pakistan, strapped for cash yet resource-rich, is also spending heavily—around $450,000 a month—to tap into Trump’s inner circle.
Observers contend this shift signals increasing exploitation, as impoverished countries hand over precious resources to fill aid gaps in a world where diplomacy becomes a transaction.