Analysis of Donald Trump’s Recent Statement on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and Ethiopian Reactions
New York/Washington, D.C. – In remarks made yesterday, June 20, 2025, following his re-election, President Donald Trump once again brought up the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) while complaining about not receiving a Nobel Peace Prize for his perceived global peace efforts.
Posting on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump highlighted what he described as his successful brokering of a peace treaty between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. He then went on to list other achievements for which he believes he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize, including “keeping Peace between Egypt and Ethiopia (A massive Ethiopian built dam, stupidly financed by the United States of America, substantially reduces the water flowing into The Nile River).”
This comment reiterates his long-standing view on the GERD and his involvement in the past negotiations, emphasizing his belief that his “intervention” led to peace, at least for now, in the dispute. He also maintained his criticism of the dam’s financing and its impact on the Nile River.
Ethiopian Reaction: A Mix of Familiar Disdain and Understated Dismissal
While a direct, immediate, and widespread official condemnation from Ethiopia comparable to 2020’s reaction was not yet widely reported as of yesterday, the sentiment among Ethiopians familiar with Trump’s past remarks likely falls into familiar patterns.
- Renewed Frustration over “Stupidly Financed” Comment: The re-emergence of the “stupidly financed” phrase is likely to reignite frustration among Ethiopians. The GERD is a project largely funded by the contributions of ordinary Ethiopians, and Trump’s dismissal of this national effort as “stupidly financed” has always been a point of deep irritation. It undermines the immense self-reliance and national pride associated with the dam.
- Dismissal of Self-Attributed Peace-Keeping: Ethiopians generally view Trump’s claims of having “kept peace” in the GERD dispute with skepticism. They remember his previous “blowing up the dam” comment as an inflammatory and unhelpful intervention, rather than a peace-making one. Ethiopia has consistently maintained its commitment to African Union-led negotiations and equitable utilization of the Nile.
- Focus on Dam’s Near Completion: With recent news indicating the GERD is nearing “total completion” (reported at 98.66% in April 2025 and an anticipated inauguration in September 2025), Ethiopians are more focused on the practical reality and benefits of the dam than on external political commentary. Trump’s remarks, while irritating, are likely seen as an irrelevant distraction from the tangible progress of the project.
- Historical Context: The current reaction is framed by the very strong negative response to his initial comments in 2020, which united Ethiopians across various political spectrums in defense of their sovereignty and national project. This history makes renewed outrage less surprising.
While formal government statements may follow, it’s highly probable that many Ethiopians will view these latest comments as consistent with Trump’s past, and largely dismiss them as misinformed and self-serving, rather than a genuine threat to the ongoing progress of the GERD.
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