US President Donald Trump once again hit out at the now cancelled $21 million fund for ‘voter turnout’ in India, calling it a “kickback scheme”.
While addressing the Republican Governors Association meeting in Washington DC, he said,”$21 million for voter turnout in India. Why are we caring about India turnout? We got enough problems. We want our own turnout.”
“Can you imagine all that money going to India. I wonder what they think when they get it. It’s a kickback scheme. It’s not like they spend it. They kick it back to the people that I would say in many cases,” Trump said during the address televised by NBC News.
“I would say in many cases, many of these cases, anytime you have no idea what we’re talking about, that means there’s a kickback because nobody has any idea what’s going on there. USD 29 million to strengthen the political landscape in Bangladesh. Nobody knows what they mean by political landscape. What does that mean?” the US president added.
“US taxpayer dollars were going to be spent on the following items, all of which have been cancelled,” DOGE’s statement read, with a specific mention of the $21 million earmarked for “voter turnout in India.”
On Thursday, Trump hinted at the USAID’s alleged interference in India’s elections. “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,” he said.
