Last week, Florida Rep. Brian Mast (R) grilled Secretary of State Antony Blinken during a House Foreign Affairs Committee meeting. In the hearing, Rep. Mast questioned Secretary Blinken over continued foreign aid to Afghanistan. Rep. Mast shared a video on social media, decrying the “lackluster response” from Secretary Blinken.
The GOP theme for the 2024 presidential election and beyond has been clearing government “waste.” With the creation of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), the Trump Administration is determined to cut waste, cut regulations, and help the government become more efficient for the American people.
During last week’s House Foreign Affairs Committee, Rep. Mast addressed government “waste” that he believes has gone on for far too long, and he reiterated that the incoming Trump Administration will stop wasteful government spending.
Though the hearing was focused on the “disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan,” which resulted in the death of 13 American service members, the Florida Republican went on to question Secretary Blinken over funding for things such as using “millions of dollars” to teach basket weaving and teaching women how to be farmers.
This week, Secretary Blinken told the American people that tens of millions of your tax dollars sent to teach Afghans how to carpet weave was saving lives.
The four years in power got to their heads — it’s time to get them out. pic.twitter.com/cWQYzMd2dQ
— Rep. Brian Mast (@RepBrianMast) December 15, 2024
“Literally, more money is sent to Afghanistan to teach women to be farmers than what is allocated within the borders of the United States of America,” Rep. Mast commented in the video posted on X.
Instead, Rep. Mast reiterated his support for Florida Senator Marco Rubio (R), who is set to be the next Secretary of State once President-elect Donald Trump (R) is inaugurated on January 20th, 2025.
In the hearing, Secretary Blinken assured that the money being used for such things has contributed to “saving many, many lives,” but Rep. Mast counters the claim by arguing that the U.S. is ready to have someone in the State Department that will put “America First”.
I’ll work with anyone to make sure the State Department never again funds drag shows, atheism, prostitution, cash vouchers for illegals, carpet weaving, and every other divisive culture war issue masquerading as diplomacy. https://t.co/Iy97EN7U2N
— Rep. Brian Mast (@RepBrianMast) December 15, 2024
