WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump on Saturday defended his administration’s decision to freeze foreign aid, arguing that billions of dollars were being sent to countries that "hate us."

Speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington, DC, Trump highlighted his foreign aid freeze, federal hiring freeze, and regulatory freeze, portraying them as key steps to cutting what he described as unnecessary spending.

"We're giving billions and billions of dollars to countries that hate us," Trump said, justifying his administration’s move to dismantle the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Thousands of USAID employees have been placed on administrative leave, and the agency’s former headquarters will now be used by Customs and Border Protection agents, according to Trump.

"We've also effectively ended the left-wing scam known as USAID," he said. "The agency's name has been removed from its former building, and that space will now house agents from Customs and Border Patrol."

Trump also touted his efforts to eliminate government waste, spotlighting the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which is being led by billionaire Elon Musk.

"Elon is doing a great job," Trump said, praising Musk’s leadership. "He's a character — with his son X. We love X. He's the only one who can get away with naming his son X."

As part of his broader crackdown on federal spending, Trump criticized a $25 million allocation for biodiversity conservation and socially responsible behavior in Colombia, calling it a misuse of US taxpayer dollars.

"This is Colombia, South America, not Columbia University," he said. "Of course, that might be worse based on their actions."

Trump also vowed to root out fraud in the Social Security system, claiming that his administration was uncovering "outrageous incompetence and fraud".

"There will be no tolerance for Social Security fraud," he declared, reiterating his commitment to overhauling federal agencies and eliminating wasteful spending. — Agencies