Jesse Watters Criticizes Biden’s Africa Trip as Exploitative

President Joe Biden’s recent trip to Africa is sparking intense criticism, with prominent figures like Fox News host Jesse Watters suggesting ulterior motives behind the administration’s initiatives. Biden, speaking at the National Museum of Slavery in Angola on Tuesday, announced major financial commitments, including $3 billion to redevelop the Lobito Corridor railway and over $1 billion in humanitarian aid.

While the administration portrays these actions as a humanitarian and economic partnership with Africa, critics, including Watters, allege the trip is more about securing resources for green energy projects than genuinely aiding the continent.

The Lobito Corridor railway, a project highlighted during Biden’s speech, is intended to connect Angola’s mining regions with key export routes, facilitating trade and economic development. The White House, through national security spokesperson John Kirby, framed the railway as a transformative infrastructure project that has been years in the making.

Biden also pledged over $1 billion in humanitarian aid to support Africans displaced by severe droughts and food insecurity, emphasizing the importance of addressing the continent’s pressing challenges.

“You know, that’s the right thing for the wealthiest nation in the world to do,” Biden said during his address. “Today, I’m announcing over $1 billion of new humanitarian support for Africans displaced from homes by historic droughts and food insecurity.”

He also stressed a broader U.S. commitment to fostering investment, trade, and partnerships across Africa, moving from a reliance on aid to building long-term economic relationships.

“We know African leaders and citizens are seeking more than just aid,” Biden added. “You seek investments. So, the United States is expanding our relationship all across Africa, from assistance to aid, investment to trade, moving from patrons to partners to help break the infrastructure gap.”

Fox News host Jesse Watters offered a starkly different perspective on Biden’s Africa trip during his primetime show. According to Watters, the true purpose behind the Lobito Corridor project and similar initiatives is to facilitate the extraction of rare minerals critical for green energy technologies.

“Here’s the real reason Biden’s in Africa. The media is not going to tell you this,” Watters asserted. “He’s building rail lines that connect mines so little African kids can dig up the minerals we need for the Green New Deal—you know, so we can have windmills that pockmark our coastlines and subsidize electric cars no one wants. Yeah, that’s why he’s there.”

Watters accused the administration of prioritizing the demands of the Green New Deal over the well-being of African communities, suggesting the focus on rare minerals exploits vulnerable populations.

The global push for renewable energy has heightened demand for rare minerals such as cobalt, lithium, and nickel—materials essential for manufacturing batteries, solar panels, and wind turbines. Africa, particularly nations like Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo, is rich in these resources.

Critics of green energy initiatives often highlight the ethical concerns tied to mineral extraction in Africa, where child labor and unsafe working conditions are significant problems. Watters’ remarks reflect a broader skepticism among some conservatives about the Biden administration’s energy policies and their reliance on resource-intensive technologies.

Watters also characterized Biden’s trip as an effort to establish a personal legacy, contrasting his challenges at home with a desire to leave a mark abroad.

“Biden ruined his legacy in America, so he’s trying to make one in Africa,” Watters said. “An African trip probably matters more to Biden, who is searching to establish a legacy in Africa, than for Africa, which is already preparing for his successor.”

Biden’s domestic approval ratings have been under pressure due to economic challenges, foreign policy controversies, and criticism over his handling of energy policies. The Africa trip, in this context, may be seen by some as an attempt to shift focus and bolster his international standing.

While the White House has defended the initiatives as a genuine effort to foster growth and stability in Africa, Watters’ critique underscores the political divide over the administration’s approach to foreign aid and energy policy.

Supporters argue that investments like the Lobito Corridor railway are essential for reducing poverty and creating sustainable economic opportunities in Africa. Critics, however, question whether these projects prioritize American geopolitical interests and the green energy agenda over the needs of African communities.

As Biden’s administration continues its engagement with Africa, the debate over the true motivations and implications of these efforts is likely to intensify. Watters’ claims have added fuel to an ongoing conversation about the intersection of energy policy, international development, and ethical responsibility.

The president’s ability to navigate these criticisms while maintaining his commitments to both African partners and the green energy transition will be critical in shaping the success—and perception—of his initiatives on the continent.