U2’s Bono hits out at Elon Musk’s DOGE cuts as “unconscionable”, says Republican Party has been “hijacked”
U2’s Bono has criticised Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) cuts to US international aid as “unconscionable”, warning they could cause large numbers of deaths. He also said the Republican Party had been “hijacked” by Donald Trump’s administration, while urging conservative voters to re-engage with their party.
In a New York Times interview, Bono cited estimates that aid cuts could contribute to millions of deaths by 2030; a study in The Lancet projected 14 million additional deaths worldwide, including 4.5 million children under five, if steep USAID reductions continued. Musk previously rejected Bono’s claims about deaths linked to the cuts. The interview also covered U2’s forthcoming album, *Carnaval De Luz*, due on 13 November, and the band’s planned 2027 tour.
In short
- Bono called DOGE’s international aid cuts “unconscionable”.
- He said the Republican Party had been “hijacked”.
- A Lancet study projected 14 million additional deaths by 2030.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Bono’s case is that abrupt, steep cuts to US international aid risk ending programmes that provide essential health care and other life-saving support, with potentially severe consequences for vulnerable people. The Lancet study’s projection gives weight to his warning, and critics of the cuts may argue that efficiency can be pursued without withdrawing assistance on a scale that could cause preventable deaths.
The case against
Supporters of the cuts may argue that aid spending should be scrutinised for effectiveness, waste and alignment with elected priorities, and that projected deaths are estimates rather than certain outcomes. They could also contend that governments should reconsider programmes whose results or costs are disputed, while seeking more targeted ways to deliver assistance; Musk’s rejection of Bono’s claims reflects a dispute over the likely impact of the reductions.