Trump-Linked Lobbyists Rake in Millions from Poorest Nations Bartering Minerals for Aid

Some of the world’s poorest countries are spending millions on lobbyists with close ties to Donald Trump in a desperate effort to maintain U.S. assistance after dramatic cuts to foreign aid, a new investigation finds.

Nations like Somalia, Haiti, and Yemen have entered into high-value lobbying agreements with individuals and firms connected to the former president, as Washington’s humanitarian support dries up. To secure much-needed military or humanitarian help, these countries are offering up precious natural resources—such as key minerals—in return, according to findings by Global Witness.

The collapse of USAID, following Trump’s sweeping overhaul of the agency, has put vulnerable countries in an even more precarious position. Experts now warn that as many as 14 million lives could be at risk over the next five years due to this shift.

Within just six months of last year’s U.S. election, Trump-linked lobbying companies secured contracts worth $17 million from some of the least developed nations—many of which had previously been among the top beneficiaries of American aid.

Official filings under U.S. law show that countries like the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)—which has long suffered violence and displacement over its mineral wealth—signed multiple contracts with these lobbyists. The DRC is currently negotiating a deal to exchange access to lithium, cobalt, and coltan for U.S. military support against rebel groups backed by neighboring Rwanda.

Other deals reveal Ballard Partners, a firm owned by longtime Trump ally Brian Ballard, secured $1.2 million in contracts with the DRC alone. Meanwhile, Somalia and Yemen signed with BGR Government Affairs, paying $550,000 and $372,000 respectively. Former BGR partner Sean Duffy now serves as Trump’s transport secretary, highlighting the tangled connections between these firms and the Trump administration.

Pakistan, a country rich in minerals but plagued by poverty, also inked two deals worth $450,000 per month with lobbyists from Trump’s inner circle—including the president’s former bodyguard, Keith Schiller.

With global competition over rare earth minerals intensifying, the Trump administration has made securing access to these resources a strategic priority, especially as China dominates the international supply chains. In exchange for U.S. backing, some countries are offering not only mineral rights but also strategic ports and military bases.

While Global Witness acknowledges that the interplay between lobbyists and governments is not new, it warns that the current wave of deals is driven by a dangerous imbalance of power and could lead to deeper exploitation of struggling nations.

Emily Stewart of Global Witness stressed the need for transparency and fairness in such agreements, saying: “International aid should remain distinct from trade negotiations. Its primary role is to create a safer world for all, not to serve as a bargaining chip for resources.”