Trump hints at US poll meddling over USAID fund: Have to tell Indian government

US President Donald Trump has hinted at the former administration of his predecessor, Joe Biden, of election interference in India as he continued to defend.

The Elon Muk-led Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) controversial decision to slash $21 million grant for the country aimed at increasing “voter turnout”.

Speaking at Saudi Arabia government-backed FII Priority Summit in Miami on Wednesday night, Trump said, “Why do we need to spend $21 million on voter turnout in India? I guess they (Biden administration) were trying to get somebody else elected. We have got to tell the Indian Government. This is a total breakthrough.”

In similar remarks at Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday, Trump questioned why India was getting the funds when the country’s economic position and trade policies did not warrant it.

“Why are we giving $21 million to India? They have a lot more money. They are one of the highest-taxing countries in the world in terms of us; we can hardly get in there because their tariffs are so high,” he said.

“I have a lot of respect for India and their Prime Minister, but giving $21 million for voter turnout?” Trump questioned.

On February 16, DOGE, established under the Trump 2.0 administration to oversee and cut government spending, announced its decision to slash $723 million in foreign aid funding as part of its broader budget overhaul plans.

The funding included the $21 million grant for India and also a $29 million programme to strengthen Bangladesh’s political landscape.

Just days after returning to the White House, President Trump ordered a near-total freeze on all foreign aid, with Musk also announcing DOGE’s intention of shutting down USAID, which has an annual budget of more than $40 billion to support development, health and humanitarian programmes around the world, especially in poor countries.

Since Trump took office in January, DOGE has cut $8.5 billion in federal spending, with individual contract cancellations averaging around $7.7 million.