Was the United States ever all that interested in promoting democracy or even helping those countries that need aid most?

The chart shows Israel at the top of the list, and the expenditures were almost overwhelmingly for military aid.  Their human rights record is less than stellar, and their agenda is imperialist.  But they provide an outstanding buffer zone in the Middle East that helps protect American oil interests.

And this hypocrisy is hardly limited to the Middle East.  Central America suffered greatly as a result of American foreign policy.

Trump is cutting foreign aid, it's true.   But the US doesn't exactly have a track record of philanthropy when it comes to aid or diplomacy.