Trump Claim of US $21m Spend in India’s Election Sparks Political Row

A comment from US President Donald Trump, that his country spent US$21 million to boost voter turnout in India’s elections, has triggered a political slugfest in the country.

The BBC is reporting that he made the remark days after a team led by Elon Musk said it had cancelled the payout as part of its crackdown on a US agency providing foreign aid.

India’s governing BJP called the payout an “external interference” and accused the opposition Congress party of seeking this intervention.

The Congress denied the allegation, calling Trump’s claims “nonsensical”. The US has not provided any evidence to support its claim.

Trump vowed to boost the US economy and soon after returning to office, he created the Department of Government Efficiency, Doge, led by Musk, to slash federal spending and jobs.

Musk says Doge’s mission is to save taxpayer money and cut national debt.

One of its biggest moves – now making global headlines – is a crackdown on USAID, the US agency overseeing humanitarian aid since the 1960s.

Musk, who has called USAID a “criminal organisation”, announced on Sunday that funding for several projects had been cancelled.

The cuts included US$486 million for the “Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening”, with “21 million for voter turnout in India” and “22 million for inclusive and participatory political process in Moldova”.

Defending Doge’s cuts, Trump said India “had a lot of money” and was among the world’s highest-taxing nations.