Last Updated:
The US Embassy in Delhi denied Donald Trump’s claim of a $21 million USAID fund for voter turnout in India.
US President Donald Trump. (Reuters Image)
The US Embassy in Delhi formally contradicted President Donald Trump’s claim that Washington had allocated $21 million through USAID to boost voter turnout in India. In a communication to India’s Ministry of External Affairs, the Embassy clarified that USAID/India neither received nor provided funding of $21 million for voter turnout in India during FY 2014–2024, nor implemented any voter turnout-related activities. It further confirmed that all USAID operations in India officially shut down on August 15, 2025.
The clarification came after Donald Trump questioned why US taxpayer money was being spent on India earlier this year. He had said, “Why are we giving $21 million to India? They have a lot more money. They are one of the highest taxing countries in the world in terms of us; we can hardly get in there because their tariffs are so high. I have a lot of respect for India and their Prime Minister, but giving $21 million for voter turnout?”
Recommended Stories
Donald Trump’s comments followed the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) announcement on February 16 that it had cancelled several overseas allocations, including a $21 million fund for “voter turnout in India.” The DOGE’s list stirred a political storm in India, with opposition leaders calling the purported US involvement in India’s electoral process “deeply troubling.”
The White House’s reference to the fund had appeared alongside other allocations, such as $22 million for political participation in Moldova under the Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening.
At the time, Indian officials said they were seeking “clarifications” on what they described as “interference concerns.” The Ministry of External Affairs termed the allegations “deeply troubling” and said relevant government departments were looking into the issues involved.
- Location :
Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)
Loading comments…
Read More
