Here’s a wild story that’s been making headlines: Former President Donald Trump claims he stopped $50 million in foreign aid from being spent on condoms in Gaza. Sounds like a bold move, right? But here’s the catch – there’s a lot of skepticism about whether this actually happened.

The story started when Trump’s press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, announced during a briefing that Trump’s team had halted a “preposterous waste of taxpayer money.” She said this money was supposed to fund condoms in Gaza. Trump himself later repeated the claim, saying $50 million was being sent to buy condoms for Hamas.

But let’s break it down. First, the White House hasn’t provided any evidence to back up this claim. When asked for proof, officials pointed to comments from the State Department – which didn’t even mention $50 million for condoms. It’s kind of a big red flag.

Second, reports show that in the past three years, USAID hasn’t spent any money on condoms in the Middle East except for a small amount in Jordan. That’s a far cry from $50 million for Gaza.

Third, think about the scale. In 2023, USAID spent about $7.1 million globally on male condoms and $1.1 million on female condoms, mostly in Africa. So, $50 million for one tiny region sounds way off.

Even a former Biden official called the claim “imaginary,” saying it’s just made up. The State Department didn’t confirm the $50 million figure either, and experts are scratching their heads.

For example, Steve Fake from Anera, a nonprofit working in Gaza, said their $50 million health program has “definitely no purchase of condoms.” Others, like Matthew Kavanagh from Georgetown University, called the story a “mischaracterization” at best.

So, while it makes for a dramatic headline, the facts just don’t add up. It seems this $50 million condom story might be more fiction than fact.