Donald Trump questions $21 million USAID fund for voter turnout in India

US President Donald Trump once again raised concerns over the United States’ allocation of $21 million to support voter turnout efforts in India, comparing it to allegations of foreign interference in American elections.

At the FII PRIORITY Summit in Miami, Trump recently questioned the rationale behind the funding, stating, “Why do we need to spend $21 million for voter turnout in India? I guess they were trying to get somebody else elected.” He criticized what he saw as a double standard, pointing out that Russia's alleged $2,000 in online ads during US elections was considered a major controversy.

Trump also aimed at India's economic policies, citing high tariffs on US goods and the country’s strong financial standing. “They’ve got a lot of money. They’re one of the highest-taxing countries in the world when it comes to us. We can hardly get in there because their tariffs are so high,” he remarked.

Despite his criticism, Trump clarified his respect for India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had visited the US just days before. However, he continued to question the necessity of the funds, adding, “What about voter turnout here? Oh, we did that, I guess. We did $500 million. It’s called the lockboxes.”

Criticism of Ukraine Aid and Zelenskyy

Shifting focus to the Ukraine war, Trump criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, alleging that he had convinced the US to invest billions in an unwinnable war.

“The United States has spent $200 billion more than Europe, and Europe’s money is guaranteed, while the United States will get nothing back,” Trump said, reiterating his stance that the war was a financial burden on the US.

On Truth Social, Trump accused Zelenskyy of poor governance and failing to hold elections, writing, “Zelenskyy admits that half of the money we sent him is ‘MISSING.’ He refuses to have elections, is very low in Ukrainian polls, and the only thing he was good at was playing Biden ‘like a fiddle.’”

US foreign aid cuts and Indian reaction

Trump’s remarks come after the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an initiative launched under his administration to reduce government spending, announced a $723 million cut in foreign aid. Among the programs slashed was the $21 million grant for voter turnout efforts in India and $29 million allocated to strengthening Bangladesh’s political landscape.

Reacting to the decision, Sanjeev Sanyal, a member of the Indian Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council, criticized USAID, which facilitated the funding. Calling it “the biggest scam in human history,” Sanyal wrote on X “Would love to find out who received the $21 million spent to improve voter turnout in India, the $29 million for ‘strengthening the political landscape’ in Bangladesh, and the $29 million to improve ‘fiscal federalism’ in Nepal.”

The controversy has reignited debates over US foreign aid priorities, with Trump positioning himself as a strong critic of what he sees as wasteful spending abroad.