US President Donald Trump recently claimed that the United States spent $21 million to boost voter turnout in India, a statement that has ignited a political firestorm in New Delhi. The remark came shortly after a team led by Elon Musk announced the cancellation of that funding as part of a broader effort to curtail spending by a US agency involved in foreign aid. In response, India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) labeled the payout as “external interference” and accused the opposition Congress party of orchestrating the intervention, an allegation that Congress dismissed as “nonsensical.” No concrete evidence has been provided by either Doge—the Department of Government Efficiency recently established by Trump and led by Musk—or the Trump administration to substantiate the claim.
On Friday, India’s foreign ministry expressed deep concern over the allegation, with spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal describing it as premature for public discussion while authorities continue to investigate the matter. This controversy is intertwined with Trump’s ongoing pledge to rejuvenate the US economy, a promise that saw the formation of Doge, whose mission is to reduce federal spending and cut the national debt. Among Doge’s most significant actions is its crackdown on USAID, the US agency that has managed humanitarian aid for decades. Musk, who has openly criticized USAID by calling it a “criminal organisation,” revealed that funding for several projects has been halted, including a total of $486 million earmarked for the “Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening.” Within this figure, $21 million was designated for voter turnout efforts in India, and an additional $22 million was allocated for enhancing participatory political processes in Moldova.
Trump defended these drastic budget cuts by pointing out that India, which he claims is one of the world’s highest-taxing nations, has ample financial resources. His comments, particularly his criticism of the $21 million expenditure on India’s voter turnout, came just a week after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first visit to Washington during Trump’s second term, during which Trump announced plans for expanded military sales, increased energy exports, and a new trade and defense framework. At a Miami summit, Trump insinuated that the funding was an attempt to influence India’s electoral process, stating, “I guess they were trying to get somebody else elected. We have got to tell the Indian government.” The same day, BJP leader Amit Malviya circulated a video clip of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi from a London event before the 2024 general election, accusing him of urging foreign powers to meddle in India’s internal affairs. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh countered this accusation, urging the government to provide transparency regarding USAID’s long-standing support for various institutions during Modi’s tenure.
Amid these conflicting claims, the question remains whether USAID ever disbursed $21 million for voter turnout in India. Despite widespread reporting, neither Doge nor Trump has produced evidence to confirm that such funding was provided. India’s electoral commission has yet to comment on the matter, while former election chief SY Qureshi, who served from 2010 to 2012, refuted the claim. Qureshi explained that an agreement signed during his tenure with a group associated with George Soros’ foundation—funded largely by USAID—was never intended to create any financial or legal obligations. Further muddying the waters, an investigative report by the Indian Express on Friday revealed that the $21 million was actually sanctioned for Bangladesh, not India, with the funds intended to support projects over a three-year period until July 2025, of which $13.4 million has reportedly already been expended.
