Washington, D.C.: US President Donald Trump’s claim that the US spent $21 million to boost voter turnout in India has triggered a major political controversy. The remarks come after Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) canceled a USAID payout, citing it as part of a crackdown on foreign aid spending.
India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) labeled the alleged funding as “external interference” and accused the opposition Congress party of seeking international intervention. Congress dismissed the allegations as “nonsensical,” while India’s foreign ministry called the claims “deeply troubling” and stated that investigations were underway.
Trump defended the funding cut, arguing that India is a wealthy nation and does not need US financial support. He further suggested that the money might have been used to influence India’s elections. BJP leader Amit Malviya linked the claim to a past speech by Rahul Gandhi, accusing Congress of seeking foreign influence. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh refuted these claims and questioned the government’s stance on USAID’s historical funding.
Meanwhile, reports suggest that the $21 million was actually allocated for Bangladesh, not India. India’s Election Commission has not responded, and no evidence has been presented to support Trump’s claim.
