Donald Trump was heard saying, “…21 million dollars going to my friend Prime Minister Modi in India for voter turnout. We are giving 21 million for voter turnout in India. What about us?
President Donald Trump once again on Friday iterated that the United States had allocated $21 million for projects aimed at “strengthening voter turnout in India.” Speaking at the White House during an interaction with governors, he stated, “…21 million dollars going to my friend Prime Minister Modi in India for voter turnout. We are giving 21 million for voter turnout in India. What about us? I want voter turnout too, Governor.”
Trump also highlighted how US agencies were funding political initiatives in Bangladesh, stating, “29 million dollars to strengthen the political landscape in Bangladesh. Went to a firm that nobody ever heard of. Got $29 million.”
He expressed skepticism over how such large amounts were being funneled to unknown entities, remarking, “They got a check. Can you imagine you have a little firm and you get $10,000 here and there? And then you get $29 million from the United States government. There are two people working in that firm.”
Questions Over US Foreign Aid Spending
Trump’s comments come just days after the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) announced that it was cutting back on taxpayer-funded projects abroad. The former US President confirmed the figures again during a speech in Miami, reiterating concerns over why the US was funding voter turnout efforts in India while facing its own domestic issues.
He said, “And $21 million for voter turnout in India. Why are we caring about India’s turnout? We got enough problems. We want our own turnout, don’t we? Can you imagine all that money going to India?” Trump went on to suggest that such foreign aid often operates as a “kickback scheme,” implying that the funds do not necessarily reach their intended purpose. “I wonder what they think when they get it.
Now, it’s a kickback scheme. You know, it’s not like they get it and they spend. They kick it back to the people that sent it.” The former President also raised doubts about the purpose of the $29 million allocation to Bangladesh, questioning the vague description of the project. “$29 million to strengthen the political landscape in Bangladesh. Nobody knows what they mean by political landscape,” he said.
The Indian Express Fact-Check Raises More Questions
On the same day, The Indian Express published a report titled ‘Team Musk flags, Trump waves, but a fact-check: $21 million did not go to India for ‘voter turnout,’ was for Bangladesh.’ The report claimed that both Trump and DOGE had misrepresented the figures and mistaken Bangladesh for India in the funding details.
According to The Indian Express, the $21 million in question was sanctioned in 2022 for Bangladesh, not India. The newspaper pointed out that the DOGE’s list of canceled grants included a $29.9-million USAID funding for Bangladesh, which aligned with Trump’s claims. However, the publication insisted that Trump and DOGE had incorrectly stated that funds were directed toward India’s voter turnout.
Despite its confident stance, The Indian Express did not provide direct evidence ruling out the possibility of US federal agencies funding voter turnout projects in India. The issue is further complicated by the fact that both USAID and the Center for Political and Economic Studies (CEPPS) have taken down their respective websites, making it difficult to verify past allocations. Meanwhile, DOGE has yet to officially respond to the allegations or the fact-check.
The controversy has fueled debate over the transparency and accountability of US foreign aid, with Trump’s remarks adding to growing scrutiny over how taxpayer money is used in overseas political initiatives.
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