More or Less: Behind the Stats Has the US sent $50 million worth of condoms to Gaza?
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Feb 15, 2025 A controversial claim about the U.S. sending $50 million worth of condoms to Gaza is thoroughly debunked. The discussion reveals the origins of this misinformation and highlights the essential role of accurate data in public health communications. It clarifies that U.S. funding primarily supports critical medical services instead. Moreover, the podcast explores the global impact of condom access on HIV prevention and sheds light on the complexities of foreign aid, emphasizing the importance of proper resource allocation for health initiatives.
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The Condom Claim
- White House Press Secretary, Caroline Levitt, claimed $50 million of taxpayer money was spent on condoms for Gaza.
- President Trump later inflated this number to $100 million and suggested Hamas used them for bomb-making.
Fact-Checking Challenges
- The USAID website, which previously held spending reports, was taken down after the claim.
- Matthew Kavanaugh, director of Georgetown University's Center for Global Health Policy and Politics, immediately questioned the claim's validity.
A Billion Condoms?
- Jeremy Keneindyke, president of Refugees International, calculated that $50 million could buy a billion condoms at the government's bulk purchase price.
- This would mean multiple condoms per day for every adult in Gaza, a population of one million.