President Donald Trump on Tuesday said the United States was responsible for financing the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), calling the decision a “terrible thing” that threatens Egypt’s water security.
Speaking during a White House press briefing, Trump asserted that the U.S. provided the funds for the massive project on the Nile River, though he expressed uncertainty regarding which administration authorized the payment.
“You know who paid for the dam? The United States,” Trump said. “We financed it. This country I don’t know maybe it was a Republican president, but I don’t think it was. I think it was a Democrat.”
The president described the dam as a “very tough situation” for Egypt, which relies heavily on the Nile for its “lifeblood,” including tourism and basic water needs. He claimed the dam effectively “stops the flow” of the river, leaving downstream neighbors in a precarious position.
