The Real Story Behind Cuts to the Arabic 'Sesame Street' and Other Programs
As President Trump and Elon Musk implement reductions in federal programs, they often conflate policy disagreements with allegations of corruption.
When President Trump mentions the "hundreds of billions of dollars of fraud" supposedly uncovered by Musk's cost-cutting efforts, he frequently targets one specific initiative with disdain. During a recent address to Congress, he criticized the $20 million allocated to the Arabic version of "Sesame Street" in the Middle East, advocating for a leaner government devoid of what some Republicans label as "woke" ideology.
However, the Arabic "Sesame Street" has historically received bipartisan support, including backing from Andrew S. Natsios, a conservative Republican who led the U.S. Agency for International Development under President George W. Bush. Natsios highlighted the program's effectiveness in Egypt, where it was funded by the U.S. government and helped foster positive perceptions of the West among children.
This initiative exemplifies "soft power," a diplomatic approach that builds goodwill and influence without coercion, a strategy largely abandoned by Trump in favor of more direct, transactional methods.
As Trump and Musk continue to reduce the federal workforce, their claims of fraud often reflect policy disagreements rather than actual criminal activity or corruption.