Egypt Daily News – Former U.S. President Donald Trump has reignited international debate over Ethiopia’s Grand Renaissance Dam (GERD), warning of its implications for Egypt and claiming that the massive project was largely funded by the United States. His remarks, made in recent public appearances, have triggered widespread reactions and renewed focus on one of Africa’s most contentious water disputes.
In statements delivered late Friday, Trump said: “As you know, Egypt and Ethiopia were fighting over the dam. Ethiopia built the dam with U.S. money to a large extent. It’s one of the biggest dams in the world.” He went on to express concern over the dam’s impact on Egypt, saying, “It doesn’t allow much water to flow into the Nile. You can imagine Egypt isn’t happy with that. The Nile is their lifeblood, it’s everything to them. I think we handled it quite well, to a large degree.”
Trump described receiving satellite images and intelligence briefings during the dam’s construction, questioning whether the dam would obstruct the Nile’s flow. “It shouldn’t have happened the way it did. It was funded by the United States, the whole thing sounds a little crazy to me,” he added, expressing hope that the crisis would eventually be resolved.
These remarks were Trump’s third set of comments on the Nile dam in less than a week, sparking a wave of speculation about his intentions and the timing of his statements. Many social media users on X (formerly Twitter) questioned whether the former president was positioning himself on the issue ahead of upcoming political developments.
Earlier in the week, Trump had stirred controversy during a meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte at the White House. He acknowledged U.S. financial involvement in the Ethiopian project, stating, “They built the dam and that stopped water from flowing to what’s known as the Nile River.”
“If I were Egypt, I’d want the water in the Nile,” Trump continued. “We’re working on a solution, and I think it will be solved. But it’s a big problem. I don’t know why they didn’t fix this before the dam was built.”
The Ethiopian dam, constructed on the Blue Nile a primary tributary of the Nile River, has long been a source of tension between Ethiopia, Egypt, and Sudan. While Ethiopia views the GERD as a critical infrastructure project for energy and development, Egypt sees it as a direct threat to its water security. Nearly 90% of Egypt’s freshwater comes from the Nile, making the river a non-negotiable lifeline for the country’s 100 million citizens.
Responding to Trump’s latest remarks, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi issued a public statement expressing appreciation for the former U.S. leader’s stance. “Egypt values President Trump’s comments, which demonstrate the seriousness of the United States under his leadership in resolving conflicts and halting wars,” Sisi wrote on his official X account. “We appreciate his commitment to achieving a fair agreement that protects everyone’s interests concerning the Ethiopian dam and his recognition of the Nile’s vital importance to Egypt.”
Trump’s statements have added a new layer of complexity to the GERD dispute, which has seen years of stalled negotiations, international mediation efforts, and occasional flare-ups of diplomatic tension. While his claims about U.S. funding have not been officially corroborated, they have reignited questions about Washington’s role in shaping outcomes in the Nile basin.
As the region braces for future developments, observers are closely watching whether Trump’s comments will influence ongoing diplomatic efforts or further inflame an already fragile situation.
