Donald Trump again decides to send ‘$21 million to India as part of USAID fund. Trump says the sum is to my friend Modi for Voter Turn Out
United States President Donald Trump has once again drawn attention to a purported $21-million grant provided by USAID for voter turnout in India, a funding allocation that his administration claims to have canceled. While addressing the governor’s Working Session, Trump specifically mentioned Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in connection with the alleged funding.
As is often the case with his remarks on foreign aid, Trump questioned the rationale behind spending such a significant amount of money overseas while implying that a similar investment could have been more beneficial within the United States itself to boost voter participation.
“And $21 million going to my friend, Prime Minister Modi, in India for voter turnout. We’re giving $21 million for voter turnout in India. What about us? I want voter turnout too,” Trump stated during his address, expressing his discontent over the allocation of American taxpayer dollars for electoral participation in another country.
In addition to India, Trump also highlighted a $29-million USAID fund that was allocated to Bangladesh, purportedly for “strengthening the political landscape” in the country. He voiced skepticism about how these funds were used and questioned the legitimacy of the recipient organization.
“$29 million to strengthen the political landscape in Bangladesh went to a firm that nobody ever heard of. Got $29 million. They got a check. Can you imagine? You have a little firm, you get $10,000 here, $10,000 there, and then you get $29 million from the United States government. Two people are working in that firm. Two people. I think they’re very happy, they’re very rich. They’ll be on the cover of a very good business magazine pretty soon for being great,” Trump remarked, casting doubt on the credibility of the recipient organization.
The President reiterated his concerns over the Bangladesh grant, emphasizing that the $29 million was given to an obscure firm with only two employees, a situation he found questionable.
Trump’s remarks quickly found traction in India’s political discourse, as BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya seized upon them to take a swipe at the Opposition. Malviya shared Trump’s statements on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) and used the opportunity to criticize the Opposition parties in India.
“For the third day in a row, US President Donald Trump reiterates his claim about USAID funding efforts to promote voter turnout in India. He says, ‘We’re giving $21 million for voter turnout in India. What about us? I want voter turnout too.’ But what does he know about his own country’s spending? The Indian Express and the deranged Left think they know better!” Malviya wrote in his post, dismissing criticism from certain media outlets and political groups.
However, The Indian Express, in a report addressing Trump’s statements, clarified that the $21-million grant was intended for Bangladesh and not India. The newspaper refuted Trump’s claims, pointing out that his remarks may have been based on a misunderstanding or misrepresentation of the actual funding allocation.
Earlier, the US President had also questioned the purpose of providing $21 million to India specifically for increasing voter turnout, reiterating his stance that the United States has difficulty engaging with India due to the country’s high tariffs on imports. Trump’s repeated references to this issue underscore his broader concerns about US foreign aid and international trade relations.
The controversy surrounding these remarks continues to gain attention, both in the United States and internationally, as discussions over foreign aid, trade policies, and electoral funding remain at the forefront of political discourse.
