Trump promises West African leaders a pivot to trade as the region reels from sweeping aid cuts
July 9, 2025
President Donald Trump has promised West African leaders a shift from aid to trade during a White House meeting. On Wednesday. Leaders from Liberia, Senegal, Gabon, Mauritania and Guinea-Bissau praised Trump while highlighting their nations’ untapped natural resources. This comes as the U.S. ends its charity-based foreign aid model, dissolving USAID earlier this month. Trump emphasized trade as a diplomatic tool, linking it to peace efforts, including a recent U.S.-facilitated deal in Congo. Critics warn the aid cuts could have devastating effects, especially in nations like Liberia, which heavily relied on U.S. support. The meeting reflects a transactional shift in U.S.-Africa relations.