National/ International Desk
21 February
Ludhiana
Sandeep Dhand
Former US President Donald Trump has once again questioned the Biden administration’s decision to provide $21 million to India to increase voter turnout. Speaking at the FII Priority Summit in Miami on Thursday, Trump suggested that the funding was an attempt to influence India’s elections.
Trump had previously raised similar concerns, criticizing the need for such financial assistance. At the summit, he listed various instances where US money was being spent unnecessarily. He said, “Why do we need to spend $2.1 billion to increase voter turnout in India? I think the Biden administration was trying to put someone else in power. We will have to tell the Indian government that.”
Trump also pointed out that apart from India, $29 million was allocated to strengthen political processes in Bangladesh. He argued that Asia is doing well economically and does not need US financial support. He emphasized that this was only a small part of the overall spending, which included many other similar expenses.
Meanwhile, the US Department of Government Efficiency (DoGE), led by billionaire Elon Musk, has announced cuts to several expenditures, including the $21 million meant for boosting voter turnout in India.