Fact Check: Did Chelsea Clinton have to repay $2.2M from USAID?
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: With great power comes not only great responsibility, but also the strangest of whispers. Former US presidents like George W Bush, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden have all found themselves at the center of bizarre and improbable rumors.
This time, however, it’s Chelsea Clinton, the only daughter of former President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton, who is the focus of a fresh wave of outlandish speculation.
The rumors, fueled by viral social media videos and posts, shockingly claim that the 45-year-old author has been ordered to repay $2.2 million in checks she allegedly cashed on behalf of the Clinton Foundation from the US Agency for International Development (USAID).
Claim: Chelsea Clinton ordered to repay $2.2M to USAID
The rumors began circulating online after a viral post from the satirical Facebook page America’s Last Line of Defense, which featured an image of the former first daughter alongside text describing the alleged situation.
“Chelsea Clinton has been ordered to repay $2.2 million in checks she cashed on behalf of the Clinton Foundation from USAID,” the post read.
“She deposited the cash into her personal account in the Cayman [sic] Islands, hoping nobody would notice. DOGE found the fraud last month, and a federal judge stepped in with the restitution order. Ms Clinton is not above the law,” the text continued.
A few days later, the page shared another reel featuring a photo of Clinton, accompanied by the same claim: “Chelsea Clinton has been ordered to repay $2.2 million in checks she cashed on behalf of the Clinton Foundation from USAID.”
The post received more than 55,400 likes, 5,600 comments, and 7,400 shares at the time of writing.
Fact Check: False, no credible evidence to back the viral claim
The shocking claims made in the viral videos are entirely false, with no credible evidence supporting the rumor that Chelsea Clinton has been ordered to repay $2.2 million to USAID.
According to fact-checking outlet Snopes, searches on major search engines like Google and Bing revealed no reports from any legitimate news media outlets about such an incident.
In reality, America’s Last Line of Defense is part of a network of Facebook pages and websites whose owners explicitly define their content as satire.
The Clinton reel shared by the page included a small disclaimer stating, “Nothing on this page is real,” and also featured an “S” label indicating it was satire.
Notably, USASpending.gov, an official database tracking US government expenditures, confirms that the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation received no funding from USAID between fiscal years 2008 and 2024.
The only US government financial award ever recorded for the Clinton Foundation was a $49,998 grant in 2010 for AmeriCorps National. This amount is significantly lower than the rumored $2.2 million, and no judge has ordered the Clinton family to repay it.
Chelsea Clinton slams rumours that she received $84 million from USAID
These outlandish rumors surfaced just a few months after Chelsea Clinton firmly denied claims that she or her family had received $84 million from USAID.
USAID, which is currently in a state of semi-dissolution due to efforts by Elon Musk’s former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has historically been tasked with providing humanitarian aid to more than 100 countries worldwide.
In fiscal year 2023, the agency managed approximately $40 billion in funds, according to the Congressional Research Service. These funds supported initiatives ranging from access to clean water to HIV/AIDS treatment programs.
Despite this, several internet users continued to spread false rumors that Clinton received $84 million from USAID.
After the rumors gained national attention, Clinton took to X to dismiss them, writing, “Lies and conspiracies about my family and me are nothing new. Still, I am particularly troubled by the absurd claims that continue to pervade social media this week, fact checks be damned.”
Lies and conspiracies about my family and me are nothing new. Still, I am particularly troubled by the absurd claims that continue to pervade social media this week, fact checks be damned.
— Chelsea Clinton (@ChelseaClinton) February 10, 2025
Facts: I’m proud of the Clinton Foundation work that has helped tens of millions of people…
“Facts: I’m proud of the Clinton Foundation’s work that has helped tens of millions of people worldwide. Our impact speaks for itself. I don’t take a cent from the Foundation. Never have. In fact, my family personally contributes meaningfully to our work each year. Misinformation isn't just noise, it’s a weapon. Efforts to undermine good work won’t stop us, and we stand in solidarity with those committed to truth, public health, progress, and the endless potential of our future,” the post continued.
