DOESN’T ADD UP!

Marco Rubio Facing MAGA Backlash Over USAID and Bad Math

The secretary of state got his sums wrong as he attempted to bury the hatchet with Elon Musk after last week’s blow up.

Marco Rubio is facing criticism from MAGA supporters over his announcement that 18 percent of USAID programs were being retained–and his inability to count.

The Secretary of State announced on X that the Trump administration is cutting 83 percent of USAID contracts and bringing the surviving 18 percent of programs under the State Department.

The post brought an immediate backlash from Trump followers angry that Rubio wasn’t scrapping USAID altogether.

It also raised questions over Rubio’s math prowess.

Social media users quickly pointed out to Rubio that 83 percent and 18 percent did not add up!

The blunder came after Rubio warned Radosław Sikorski, Poland’s foreign affairs minister, that without Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite services to the Ukrainian army, the “Russians would be on the border with Poland right now.”

Perhaps he needs a geography lesson as well as math, because Poland already has Russians on the border they share along Russia’s Kaliningrad province.

In his post on Monday, Rubio said that a six-week review into USAID was complete and 5,200, or 83 percent, of the programs, were being officially canceled, with savings, he claimed, of “tens of billions of dollars.

He said the remaining approximately 1,000, or 18 percent, of USAID programs would be administered “more effectively” under the State Department.

NOTHING TO SEE HERE

Trump Admits His Cabinet Has Been Fighting With Elon Musk

Sean Craig

“Thank you to DOGE and our hardworking staff who worked very long hours to achieve this overdue and historic reform,” he added.

“Tough, but necessary. Good working with you,” Musk responded on X. “The important parts of USAID should always have been with Dept of State.”

The post was seen as another olive branch to DOGE slasher-in-chief Elon Musk after they reportedly clashed during a meeting of President Donald Trump’s Cabinet last week after Rubio was accused of not making enough staff cuts.

Rubio went to Musk’s defense in the weekend online spat with Poland’s foreign affairs minister and then went out of his way to praise DOGE for its role in culling USAID.

COMMON ENEMY

Elon and Marco Bury Hatchet and Team Up to Bully Key Ally

Julia Ornedo

But some MAGA supporters criticized Rubio’s announcement, insisting it didn’t go far enough.

“83% isn’t enough,” wrote conservative commentator Anthony Galli. “Abolish USAID! Why should my government force me to give my money to a foreign country where virtually every country on Earth have multi-billion dollar economies and could fund their own dang necessities?”

“This is not a win. @DOGE called for the abolishment of @USAID and now it seems to have survived to fight another day. What happens when the corrupt dems get in power again with an active USAID? Why ever keep it around???” wrote another MAGA fan.

“Name the 17% that were considered good contracts,” wrote MAGA veteran Michael Leggero.

Several online followers also pointed out Rubio’s numerical shortcomings, with one posting: “Math is hard, eh?”

See more of our coverage in your search results.

ADD THE DAILY BEAST ON GOOGLE

David GardnerChief National Correspondent

Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here.