Donald Trump Questions USAID Funding For India's 'Voter Turnout': 'They Take Advantage Of Us Pretty Good’

The row erupted after the US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) announced cancelling many programmes costing hundreds of millions of taxpayers' dollars. The department said, "US taxpayer dollars were going to be spent on the following items, all (of) which have been cancelled..." The list included USD 486 million in grants to the Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening including USD 21 million for "voter turnout in India".

Speaking on the money given to India for its elections, Trump said at the Conservative Political Action Conference, “Why the hell? Why don’t we go back to old paper ballots and let them help us with our elections? They don’t need money."

“We’re giving money to India for elections, well they don’t need money. They take advantage of us. They are one of the highest tariffs nations in the world. They have a 200 per cent tariff and then we give them a lot of money for elections," he added.

#WATCH | Addressing the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington, US President Donald Trump says, "$29 million goes to strengthen the political landscape and help them out so that they can vote for a radical left communist in Bangladesh. You got to see who… pic.twitter.com/IzgE6NMDiP

— ANI (@ANI) February 22, 2025

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Jaishankar Expresses Concern Over USAID Row

Amid US President Donald Trump's repeated attack on alleged USAID disbursed to India, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday dubbed the information "concerning" and added the government is looking into the matter.

Responding to the allegations, Jaishankar, while addressing the Delhi University Literature Festival event in the national capital, said, "...Some information has been put out there by the Trump administration people, and obviously, that is concerning... I think, as a government, we're looking into it. My sense is that the facts will come out..."

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"USAID was allowed here in good faith, to do good faith activities; now, suggestions are being laid out from America that there are activities which are in bad faith. It's worrisome, and if there's something to it, then the country should know who the people are involved in it," he added.