US President Donald Trump criticized USAID for allegedly funding interference in India’s elections, questioning why the US provides aid to a country with high tariffs on American goods. Speaking at the CPAC, he cited an “$18 million” figure for election aid to India, echoing earlier reports of “$21 million” designated for voter turnout in Bangladesh, not India. Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar expressed concern over these allegations, while Congress demanded transparency on foreign funds in India and refuted Trump’s claims, emphasizing that the funds in question were not for India but for Bangladesh. BJP officials dismissed Congress’s rebuttals.
New Delhi:
US President Donald Trump today expressed new criticism of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for reportedly providing funds to meddle in India’s electoral process. He questioned the rationale behind the US offering aid to India, suggesting that the country already enjoys benefits from high tariffs on American products.
“Eighteen million dollars to assist India with its elections. Why on earth? Why don’t we switch back to old paper ballots and let them help us with our elections instead? Voter ID, wouldn’t that be a good idea? We’re sending money to India for elections when they don’t need it,” President Trump remarked during his speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington.
The figure of “eighteen million” has not been independently verified, as an earlier US government report from the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) stated that “$21 million” was designated for “voter turnout” in India.
“They exploit us quite effectively. One of the highest tariff countries globally. When we try to sell something, they impose a 200 percent tariff. And then we’re giving them a substantial amount of money to assist with their elections,” President Trump added.
#WATCH | While speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington, US President Donald Trump remarked, “$29 million goes to enhance the political framework and support them to vote for a radical left communist in Bangladesh. You have to see who… pic.twitter.com/IzgE6NMDiP
— ANI (@ANI) February 22, 2025
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar addressed the concerns raised by President Trump’s statements yesterday.
“Some information has been circulated by the Trump administration, and it’s understandably concerning. As a government, we are looking into it. My impression is that the facts will emerge. USAID was permitted here in good faith to conduct genuine activities; now, there are claims from America suggesting that some activities may be insincere. That’s troubling, and if there is truth to it, the public deserves to know who is behind it,” Mr Jaishankar stated.
The Congress party has called for a white paper detailing the funds received in India from development agencies and aid mechanisms. They also demanded legal action against those alleging foreign interference in Indian democracy.
Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera responded to President Trump’s comments, noting, “More Indian media outlets have confirmed that the claim made by BJP and Modi’s government is false. Funds were allocated to Bangladesh, not India; while India did receive USAID funds, it was not for enhancing voter turnout.”
President Trump also alleged that an unnamed company in Bangladesh was the recipient of $29 million in funding.
“Received $29 million. They got a check. Can you believe it? A small firm gets $10,000 here, $10,000 there, and then they receive $29 million from the US government. There are two individuals working in that firm… I think they’re quite happy and wealthy. They’ll likely feature on the cover of a prominent business magazine soon for being excellent scammers,” he claimed.
Congress has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to “speak to his friend” and deny the allegations made by President Trump. The party has further criticized Modi’s government for its response to the allegations, accusing the BJP of using Trump’s claims to reinforce conspiracy theories.
“There is no record of a Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening (CEPPS) program that aligns with the US government’s description in India. While CEPPS did have a $21 million USAID contract, it was for Bangladesh, not India,” Mr Khera added.
The BJP’s Ajay Alok dismissed Congress’s statements as unfounded.
“We have already demonstrated that the government received $2119 million from 2004-14 and merely 1.5 million from 2014-25. We are shutting down these operations. The Indian government is now taking action; the US government has released a list of who received money and from where… this is part of a deep state theory. The Bharat Jodo Yatra was also funded with this money,” Mr Alok asserted.