Fact Check: Did Fetterman call for an investigation into Malia Obama's alleged $2.3M USAID grants?
WASHINGTON, DC: A rumor has been circulating on social media platforms claiming that Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman called for an investigation into former President Barack Obama's daughter, Malia Obama, over alleged USAID grants, sparking criticism and speculation.
Let us analyze the viral rumor and fact-check the claim's authenticity.
Claim: John Fetterman called for an investigation into Malia Obama's USAID grants
According to the viral post, Fetterman said he was the only Democrat on the Senate's Fraud Exploratory Committee to vote in favor of opening an investigation into Malia Obama's suspicious USAID grants while she was still living in the White House in 2007.
"She was just a kid," Fetterman allegedly said. "So shouldn't we be looking at how a high school girl snatched $2.3 million for writing pen pal letters to a few dozen kids in Africa?"
The post further states that Fetterman said the party's refusal to investigate its own members is the main reason he believes there will be a red wave in November. "Nobody sees it coming, but mark my words," the Democratic senator said, according to the post, which has garnered more than a million views.
Fact Check: The claim originated from a parody account
The claim is false, as there is no credible evidence that Fetterman voted in favor of opening an investigation into Malia Obama's alleged USAID grants.
A Google search for "Fraud Exploratory Committee" and "Malia Obama's USAID grants" yielded no credible reports from major news outlets, which would almost certainly have covered such a development if it were true.
Similar claims linking Malia Obama to the misuse of USAID grants have surfaced in the past and have been debunked by fact-checkers.
Moreover, the post was accompanied by an image of Fetterman and Malia that included a label in the bottom-right corner stating, "Satire: ALLOD."
The claim originated from a Facebook parody account called "America's Last Line of Defense," which has previously spread similar claims about the former president's daughter.
Trump administration's USAID cuts led by Elon Musk
USAID (United States Agency for International Development) grants are financial awards that fund international development, humanitarian relief, and economic growth.
They are available to non-governmental organizations (NGOs), educational institutions, and private-sector businesses. The Trump administration last year began cracking down on USAID, with billionaire Elon Musk leading the effort.
The SpaceX and Tesla CEO, who was serving as President Trump's pick to lead the newly created Department of Government Efficiency, was tasked with implementing budget cuts and potentially dismantling USAID altogether.
