Donald Trump criticized the Biden administration for allocating USD 21 million to enhance voter turnout in India, calling it international interference, whereas India’s MEA and BJP raised considerations.
Trump Targets Biden’s Foreign Aid: ‘Why fund India’s elections as an alternative of America’s?’
US President Donald Trump has raised considerations concerning the Biden administration’s determination to allocate USD 21 million to India for growing voter turnout. He questioned the aim of this funding and speculated whether or not it was meant to “help someone else get elected.” Trump made these remarks at a summit in Miami, calling it a “total breakthrough” and saying that the Indian authorities needs to be knowledgeable about this spending.
The subject gained consideration after the US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a cost-cutting company led by billionaire Elon Musk, revealed that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) had deliberate to present USD 21 million to assist voter participation in India. DOGE, which was created by Trump, launched an inventory of bills the place US taxpayer cash was being allotted. The report additionally talked about different worldwide funding, together with USD 29 million for strengthening Bangladesh’s political panorama and USD 39 million for Nepal’s governance and biodiversity conservation. DOGE introduced that all these bills had now been canceled, claiming it had saved over USD 55 billion in only one month.
India’s Response and Political Reactions
Following Trump’s remarks, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) responded by stating that the scenario was being reviewed by related authorities. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that the studies of US funding in India’s electoral course of have been “deeply troubling” and that India is intently analyzing the matter earlier than making a public remark.
#WATCH | “We have seen information that has been put out by the US administration regarding certain USA activities and funding. These are obviously very deeply troubling. This has led to concerns about foreign interference in India’s internal affairs. Relevant departments and… pic.twitter.com/2WHRex7auG
— ANI (@ANI) February 21, 2025
Meanwhile, India’s ruling celebration, the BJP, additionally raised considerations about exterior interference in the nation’s elections. BJP chief Amit Malviya criticized the funding and steered that it didn’t profit the ruling celebration however as an alternative appeared to be linked to international affect. He additionally talked about Hungarian-born US financier George Soros, who has been accused of supporting political actions in numerous nations. Malviya additional pointed to a 2012 settlement between the Election Commission of India and The International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), which he claimed was linked to Soros’s Open Society Foundation.
Trump additionally reiterated his considerations in a speech at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, questioning why the US was funding elections in India as an alternative of focusing by itself voter turnout. He identified that India is a financially robust nation with excessive tariffs on US items, and there was no justification for sending taxpayer cash there.
The controversy has sparked discussions on international involvement in electoral processes, and India is anticipated to present additional updates after finishing its evaluate of the scenario.
