Former Representative Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) recently criticized tech billionaire Elon Musk over his citizenship while defending the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). This came amid accusations that the Trump administration had sought to reduce the agency’s role in global affairs.
The back-and-forth began on X, formerly Twitter, when a user pointed out Cheney’s deep ties to USAID, having worked there before entering politics. Cheney, who later became a strong critic of President Trump, particularly after her role in the House select committee investigating the January 6th Capitol attack, responded to Musk’s comment.
In her reply, Cheney took a swipe at Musk’s understanding of U.S. history, particularly around the Cold War and the fight against Soviet communism. She pointed out that America’s success in promoting freedom and defeating tyranny was a source of national pride, something Musk might not fully grasp, given that he wasn’t an American citizen during those pivotal moments in history.
Musk, born in South Africa in 1971, became a U.S. citizen later in life. He arrived in the United States in 1995 for graduate studies at Stanford University but left shortly thereafter to focus on launching his tech companies, including SpaceX and Tesla.
This exchange occurred as Musk has drawn increased attention for his project known as the “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE), which seeks to audit and streamline federal government spending. His efforts have raised concerns, especially among Democrats, who worry about his growing influence in government affairs.
One key focus of this debate is USAID, which has recently been under scrutiny for halting foreign aid, while Musk’s DOGE team gains access to sensitive government systems. Cheney has defended the agency’s work in promoting democracy, while critics argue that it may need to be re-evaluated for effectiveness, particularly when it comes to managing taxpayer dollars abroad.