Samantha Power, former US Ambassador to UN: Closing USAID was soft power suicide

“The destruction of USAID is not only one of the cruellest acts that I've seen in my career, but of course also one of the dumbest.”

Caitriona Perry speaks to Samantha Power, the former American ambassador to the United Nations. She went on to lead the U.S. Agency for International Development until January 2025 when Donald Trump came to power. President Trump later closed USAID down.

She is scathing about his decision, describing it as a “soft power suicide” which will lead to the avoidable deaths of millions of people around the world. Ambassador Power also warns of gridlock in the United Nations, thanks to the use of veto powers by permanent members of the Security Council.

Thank you to Caitriona Perry and Abby Godard for their help in making this programme. The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC, including episodes with Nigel Casey, the UK ambassador to Russia, and the Colombian President Gustavo Petro. You can listen on the BBC World Service on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 0800 GMT. Or you can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out three times a week on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts.

Presenter: Caitriona Perry Producers: Abby Godard and Lucy Sheppard Editors: Damon Rose and Justine Lang

Get in touch with us on email TheInterview@bbc.co.uk and use the hashtag #TheInterviewBBC on social media.

(Image: Samantha Power Credit: Hollie Adams/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Denne episoden er hentet fra en åpen RSS-feed og er ikke publisert av Podme. Den kan derfor inneholde annonser.

Episoder(1943)

Rohan Kanawade, film director: My parents accepted my sexuality

‘Their love was so innocent, so sweet, so organic and we just wanted them to end up together because even they knew that some of the queer films always end in tragedy and they were worried that someth...

26 Jul 0s

Rafael Grossi, IAEA: Nuclear back on the table?

“Due to geopolitical divides, countries are having second thoughts about non-proliferation or their non-proliferation obligations, in the sense that many countries were relying or are still relying on...

23 Jul 0s

Amy Wallace, writer: We all need to speak up

“We all need to be speaking up about it. Not just the survivors. And we put so much burden on the people who've actually suffered the most, the most vulnerable among us.”Naga Munchetty speaks to Amy W...

21 Jul 0s

Maggie Haberman, US journalist: Trump tests limits

“One of the things that’s fascinating about him simply as a historical study is the recognition that shamelessness is a superpower, and he refuses to be shamed in almost any action that he takes. He a...

19 Jul 23min

Christopher Nolan, director: We need to take risks

“The biggest risk in motion pictures is to not take a risk. You have to be putting it out there and offering people something new, and that's what will get them out of their houses.”Katie Razzall spea...

16 Jul 23min

Jim Continenza, Kodak CEO: Reinventing a brand

“We were losing about $160 million a year. We burned through our cash and we had to make some changes. I don’t mean a financial restructuring. I mean transformation of the business. It’s a skill and a...

14 Jul 22min

Patrick Tiernan: War risk is being rewritten

“As there is more drone warfare, more artificial intelligence in the decision making, we’re going to have to completely reimagine how we cover [war]”Business presenter Felicity Hannah speaks to Patric...

12 Jul 22min

Jacob Zuma’s daughters: Polygamy is a subject we lived

“It's a subject that I know I've lived, I've seen up close…That includes watching my father. That includes the relationships that I saw him have.” Presenter Anne Soy speaks to Gugu Zuma-Ncube and Th...

9 Jul 23min