A false video claiming that the United States Agency for International Development paid actors like Ben Stiller and Angelina Jolie millions to travel to Ukraine spread quickly on social media platforms like X. The video, which Musk and Trump Jr. shared, led to a campaign targeting U.S.A.I.D., resulting in the agency being taken over by Musk and facing imminent layoffs. Republican critics distorted facts about the agency, with some suggesting it funded media outlets like Politico, despite evidence to the contrary. Russian and Chinese state media used the controversy to advance claims that U.S.A.I.D. was supporting subversive activities abroad. The false video was linked to an influence campaign known as Operation Overload with ties to the Kremlin. Ben Stiller refuted the claims, stating that his humanitarian trip to Ukraine was self-funded. Despite the lack of evidence, conspiracy theorists and supporters of Musk continue to promote false claims about U.S.A.I.D., exacerbating the spread of misinformation online. The controversy highlights the danger of distorted facts and conspiratorial thinking being amplified on social media platforms, with real-world consequences for organizations like U.S.A.I.D. and media outlets wrongly accused of improper funding.
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