Washington, D.C. – Former President Donald Trump made an unsubstantiated claim Wednesday, alleging that people in Gaza have been using condoms—allegedly provided through U.S. funding—to make bombs. His remarks, delivered in defense of a controversial funding freeze, were not backed by any evidence.
Trump’s statement came during a discussion about the White House’s temporary freeze on discretionary spending payments, including government grants—a move that was halted Tuesday evening by a federal court ruling.
“There was a short-term pause or funding freeze on certain discretionary spending payments, such as government grants, only for us to quickly look at the scams, dishonesty, waste, and abuse that’s taken place in our government for too long,” Trump said. He then pivoted to a claim regarding funding for humanitarian aid in Gaza, told Axios.
“And that process, we identified and stopped $50 million being sent to Gaza to buy condoms for Hamas—50 million,” Trump stated. “And you know what’s happened to them? They’ve used them as a method of making bombs. How about that?” The assertion quickly sparked scrutiny.
A CNN fact-check found no evidence that the U.S. government had ever allocated $50 million specifically for condoms in Gaza, let alone that such aid had been misused for weapon-making. The claim also follows a broader trend of Trump promoting unverified narratives about foreign aid.
His administration and political allies have frequently criticized U.S. funding for international humanitarian efforts, often framing them as wasteful or vulnerable to misuse. Experts in humanitarian assistance and international security dismissed Trump’s remarks as baseless.
The United Nations and various aid organizations operating in Gaza distribute contraceptives and medical supplies as part of public health initiatives, but there has been no credible reporting linking such aid to weapons manufacturing.
The remarks also come as Trump faces growing legal and political challenges, with critics arguing that he is doubling down on inflammatory rhetoric to energize his base ahead of a potential 2024 presidential bid. With no supporting evidence to back Trump’s claims, his statements are likely to fuel further controversy over the politicization of foreign aid and misinformation in public discourse.