May 30, 2025 01:32 am (IST)
Follow us:
facebook-white sharing button
twitter-white sharing button
instagram-white sharing button
youtube-white sharing button
US Judge extends order blocking Trump ban on foreign students' enrolment in Harvard | India rejects Team Trump's latest claim on tariffs' role behind ceasefire with Pakistan | Operation Sindoor is not over yet: PM Modi's announcement from Bengal | 'Why aren't you giving sindoor to your wife first?': Mamata slams Modi on Operation Sindoor | Murshidabad and Malda communal violence reflect TMC govt's cruelty: Modi in Bengal | Gaurav Gogoi maintained proximity with the Pakistani establishment: Himanta Biswa Sarma | 'I have better things to do': Shashi Tharoor after Congress calls him 'super spokesperson of BJP' | Days not far when people of PoK will voluntarily reunite with India: Rajnath Singh | Elon Musk expresses 'disappointment' over Trump's 'big, beautiful bill', says it will 'increase budget deficit' | Shashi Tharoor upsets Congress after praising PM Modi's Operation Sindoor during Panama visit
US Fund
Donald Trump slams Biden administration over the US fund used to improve 'voter turnout' in India. (Photo courtesy: Screen-grab from X post)

'They were trying to get somebody else elected': Donald Trump slams Biden regime over 'voter turnout' fund for India

| @indiablooms | Feb 20, 2025, at 11:01 am

Washington/IBNS: US President Donald Trump has accused the Biden administration of meddling in Indian politics and trying to influence the country's election results with the now scrapped fund of $21 million which was spent in India.

Speaking at a summit in Miami on Wednesday, Trump said, "Why do we need to spend $21 million on voter turnout in India? I guess they were trying to get somebody else elected. We have got to tell the Indian Government... This is a total breakthrough."

Days ago, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which is helmed by billionaire Elon Musk, cancelled a $21 million US taxpayer-funded grant, initiated by former President Joe Biden's administration to influence the "voter turnout in India."

In its announcement, DOGE stated the $21 million was part of a larger $486 million budget allocated to the "Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening."

Another $29 million was slated for "strengthening the political landscape in Bangladesh" - a country that witnessed political turmoil amid allegations of US 'deep state' involvement in the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Backing the DOGE's decision to scrap the fund, Trump on Tuesday at a presser, "Why are we giving $21 million to India? They got 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 the Prime Minister, but giving $21 million for voter turnout? In India? What about like voter turnout here?"

Several other funding for countries from Asia and Africa have also faced similar fate.

The sweeping cancellations were part of efforts to improve government efficiency and ensure taxpayer dollars were not being spent on "questionable" overseas political activities, DOGE stated.

Support Our Journalism

We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism

IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.

Support objective journalism for a small contribution.
Close menu