Who is Mike Benz? The man fueling Musk’s war on USAID ( Picture credit: X, AP )
Mike Benz has recently come under fire for his criticism of the US Agency for International Development ( USAID), which is quickly gaining support in conservative circles and powerful figures like Elon Musk.
The Washington Post claims that Benz’s claims that USAID serves as a front for brains firms have contributed to Musk’s ongoing battle against the organization. Musk, citing Benz’s statements, has called USAID a” legal firm” and vowed to destroy it.
With USAID at the center of the conflict, the Trump presidency moves to rebuild or destroy state structures that are perceived as politically biased.
Who Is Mike Benz?
- Previous state department official Mike Benz worked on internet and security issues during Trump’s first word ( NBC News ).
- He left the government and founded the Foundation for Freedom Online, a nonprofit that he said opposes the “censorship business advanced” and excessive government legislation.
- He has a lot of influence over Musk, especially in regards to international policy and modern freedom, which has increased their social media engagement.
- Benz’s criticism of USAID suggest that the organization influences foreign institutions and even online discussion management, as well as playing a role in humanitarian assistance.
- He describes USAID as part of a broader “foreign plan trifecta” alongside the State Department, Department of Defense, and intellect society, as per the Washington Post.
- But, experts, including professor professor Phil Brenner of American University, have refuted some of Benz’s says, calling them errors of USAID’s real procedures, according to the Center for Global Development.
- Despite his rising control, Benz’s history has drawn attention. He reportedly promoted light internationalist viewpoints and conspiracy theories, including the” Great Replacement Theory,” according to an NBC News research that led to his affiliation with the alt-right.
- Although Benz has never publicly addressed these claims, the reemergence of his relations to extremist narratives has raised more questions about his part in the Trump-Musk assault on USAID.
