US President Donald Trump has once again questioned the Biden administration's decision to allocate $21 million to India for “voter turnout”, guessing that they were trying to "get somebody else elected".
Trump made these remarks while addressing the FII PRIORITY Summit in Miami on Thursday (20).
He had raised similar concerns earlier, questioning the necessity of such financial aid.
On Wednesday, he questioned the purpose of providing $21 million to India for “voter turnout” as he reiterated that the US "can hardly get in there" because of high Indian tariffs.
His remarks came after the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) led by Elon Musk disclosed that USAID contributed $21 million to the Election Commission to boost voter turnout in India.
At the FII summit, Trump cited some examples to the audience about where their money was going before he became president. "These are random examples," he said.
"...And $21 million for voter turnout in India. Why do we need to spend $21 million for voter turnout in India? Wow, I guess they (the Biden administration) were trying to get somebody else elected. We have got to tell the Indian Government," he said.
"Because, when we hear that, Russia spent about $2,000 in our country, it was a big deal...This is a total breakthrough, $21 million for Indian elections, and $29 million to strengthen the political landscape in Bangladesh... Asia is doing well, we don't need to give them money," he said.
He further said that these are just a few of the funding. The list is very long.
On February 16, DOGE listed items on which the “US taxpayer dollars were going to be spent” and noted that all of the items have been cancelled.
The list also included $19 million for "biodiversity conservation" in Nepal as well as $47 million for "improving learning outcomes in Asia”.
The DOGE has been put in charge of overseeing workforce reduction across the government, and as part of that, Musk announced that he would shut down USAID, which is responsible for humanitarian efforts around the globe.
According to USAID officials on February 7, all USAID humanitarian work worldwide was stopped, ABC News reported.
The agency's website was shut down before Musk's announcement.
Later, a Trump-nominated judge announced a temporary restraining order that prevents the president and DOGE from placing 2,200 employees on administrative leave.
Security personnel inspect the site in the aftermath of an attack as food stall chairs lie empty in Pahalgam, about 90 kilometres (55 miles) from Srinagar on April 23, 2025. Indian security forces in Kashmir carried out a major manhunt on April 23, a day after gunmen opened fire on tourists killing 26 people in the region's deadliest attack on civilians since 2000. Getty Images
Tourists visit Betaab Valley in Pahalgam, about 112 km south of Srinagar on June 26, 2025.Getty Images
Pilgrims gather at the Baltal Base Camp near Domel, en route to the sacred Amarnath cave in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India, on July 29, 2025. The annual Amarnath Yatra, which began on July 3, proceeds under heightened security following a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed the lives of 25 tourists and a local pony handler. Security forces have been deployed in large numbers across the pilgrimage route, with checkpoints, surveillance, and restrictions in place to safeguard the thousands of devotees undertaking the arduous journey. The Amarnath Yatra is one of the most important Hindu pilgrimages, drawing worshippers from across India to the high-altitude Himalayan shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva. Despite the threat of violence and challenging terrain, pilgrims continue their spiritual trek, determined to complete the sacred journey under the shadow of grief and resilience.Getty Images
