Ben Stiller denies USAID funding Ukraine trip amid viral claims and Russian media misinformation

Ben Stiller dismisses claims that USAID funded his Ukraine trip, calling them false.

Actor and humanitarian Ben Stiller has denied claims that his 2022 visit to Ukraine was funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), calling the allegations false and attributing them to Russian media.

The rumors surfaced amid broader criticism of USAID, fueled by Elon Musk’s recent claims on X that the agency was a “criminal enterprise.” Shortly after, viral posts falsely alleged that U.S. tax dollars funded celebrity trips to Ukraine, including Angelina Jolie’s, Sean Penn’s, and Stiller’s. One widely shared post even featured a fake E! News video suggesting Stiller’s visit cost $4 million.

Totally false. Untrue.

These are lies coming from Russian media. I completely self-funded my humanitarian trip to Ukraine. There was no funding from USAID and certainly no personal payments. https://t.co/x264Bb7ZBW

— Ben Stiller (@BenStiller) February 5, 2025

Stiller responded directly to the claims in a post on X, writing, “These are lies coming from Russian media. I completely self-funded my humanitarian trip to Ukraine. There was no funding from USAID and certainly no payment of any kind. 100 percent false.”

These are lies coming from Russian media. I completely self-funded my humanitarian trip to Ukraine. There was no funding from USAID and certainly no payment of any kind.

💯 percent false. https://t.co/EFBPmrFQJ6

— Ben Stiller (@BenStiller) February 5, 2025

The Zoolander star visited Ukraine in June 2022 as a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). During his visit, he met displaced Ukrainians and held discussions with President Volodymyr Zelensky. The two shared a public exchange in which Stiller praised Zelensky’s leadership, calling him his “hero.” The Ukrainian leader responded with humor, acknowledging Stiller’s acting career.

Following the visit, Stiller shared his experiences in an Instagram video, highlighting the impact of war and the need to support refugees. Later, in August 2022, he reflected on Ukraine’s resilience, commending Zelensky’s leadership during the crisis.

Despite the misinformation, Stiller remains committed to humanitarian work through UNHCR, an organization he has represented for years.