Trump Administration is Wondering Why Ambassador Makunts Honored USAID Head Considered its Enemy

· February 17, 2025

Washington — Hraparak daily reported on December 17 that Armenia’s Ambassador to the United States Lilit Makunts organized a discussion dedicated to the “lasting impact” of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) “on Armenia’s economic development and strengthening of democracy.”

The event, which was more like an evening honoring USAID Administrator Samantha Power, was hosted by former US Ambassador to Armenia Marie Yovanovitch.

Makunts expressed special gratitude to Power, hoping “for USAID’s continued cooperation with Armenia to further strengthen it with the new US administration that was forming.”

According to reports received from the Armenian community in Washington, the Trump administration, after assuming power, wondered why Makunts organized such an event.

Samantha Power is considered enemy number one in the Trump team, they are even going to hold her accountable for wasting public funds for political purposes and discrediting Trump who shut down USAID as soon as he became president.

Moreover, this event took place after Trump had already won the US presidential election in November and spoke out openly against USAID. Trump’s team doesn’t understand what Lilit Makunts was thinking by inviting Power to the Armenian embassy and honoring her, especially since the event was hosted by another Trump foe, former US Ambassador to Ukraine and Armenia Marie Yovanovitch. Trump’s team is trying to figure out if this is a political message or just incompetence.