To Donald Trump, the comment may have simply been a throwaway line to raise an easy chuckle from his supporters.

Indeed, when the US president complained that American aid was being sent to Lesotho, an African country “no one has ever heard of”, many in his audience laughed.

After the joke, Washington quickly moved on, propelled by its unending stream of new soundbites and headlines.

Yet 8,000 miles away in Lesotho itself, the slight has not been so quickly forgotten and has not been taken lightly.

In the country nicknamed the mountain kingdom, Mr Trump’s quip has caused significant offence.

Lejone Mpotjoane, Lesotho’s foreign minister, called the remark “quite insulting”, adding that the country was “shocked and embarrassed”.

“I’m really shocked that my country can be referred to like that by the head of state,” he said.

Kananelo Boloetse, a journalist, posted on X: “We’re here, we’re proud, and we’re not your punchline.”