U.S. President Donald Trump made an unsubstantiated claim on Thursday that billions of dollars have been stolen at USAID and used to pay for positive media coverage of his opponents, targeting the media amid a global outcry over his administration's effective shuttering of the agency.

Andrew Natsios joins The Lead

Thousands of employees are being placed on administrative leave as the president’s plans for USAID become clearer.

There, USAID supporters at the rally held signs, saying things like “USAID Saves Lives” and “Save USAID.” They chanted, heard speeches from members of Congress and worried about USAID’s unfinished work.