An Ethiopian official has rejected former U.S. President Donald Trump's assertion that the United States funded the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), a project that has long stirred tensions with Egypt and Sudan.
Speaking on Tuesday, Fikrte Tamir, Deputy Director of the GERD Coordination Office, stated that the dam was built “without any foreign aid”, dismissing Trump’s claims as baseless. The remarks follow renewed controversy after Trump claimed—both on his Truth Social platform and during a recent event—that the dam was “stupidly financed by the United States” and that it “substantially reduces the water flowing into the Nile River.”
Diplomatic Strains Resurface
Trump’s comments have reignited longstanding concerns from Egypt and Sudan, both of which lie downstream of the Nile. The two countries fear the dam could reduce their vital water supply, a concern Trump echoed in his recent remarks.
However, Ethiopia maintains that GERD is essential for its energy needs, with 60% of the population lacking access to electricity. The dam, more than a mile long and 145 meters high, lies on the Blue Nile—origin of around 85% of the Nile's total water volume. After years of construction delays, GERD began generating electricity in 2022 and was fully completed earlier this month.
Despite Trump’s statements, no evidence has emerged to support claims of U.S. financial involvement in the project. In fact, during Trump’s presidency, the U.S. government withheld nearly $100 million in aid to Ethiopia amid tensions over negotiations involving the dam.
Public-Funded, Nationally Driven
Though technically an independent body, the GERD Coordination Office was established by the Ethiopian government to mobilize financial support from the public. The dam has been funded through a massive domestic effort: bonds sold to companies, salary deductions from public employees, and donations from the Ethiopian diaspora.
“The government should respond with far-sighted and carefully considered diplomatic procedures,” Ms. Fikrte said, urging a measured response to Trump’s remarks.
Still, some Ethiopians have questioned how much the Coordination Office would know about any high-level government deal with the U.S., given its semi-independent status.
As of July 2025, the GERD Coordination Office reported raising 1.7 billion birr (approximately $12.3 million) from the public in just the past year—a testament to the dam’s enduring national significance.
Regional Implications
GERD’s completion marks a milestone for Ethiopia’s development ambitions, but it also deepens existing geopolitical rifts. Egypt, a longstanding ally of the Trump administration, has frequently voiced concerns over water security and sees GERD as a potential threat to its survival.