On Day-4 of attack on USAID, Trump claims $18 million given to India

US President Donald Trump is still at it. Early on Sunday morning (IST), he once again levelled allegations about funds allocated by USAID (United States Agency for International Development) to support elections in India, this time confusingly quoting a figure of $18 million rather than his earlier claim of $21 million, and suggesting that these funds would be better utilised to enhance voter participation within the US, the Times of India reported.

Speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), Trump questioned the necessity of providing financial assistance to India for its electoral processes, stating, "Why are we giving money to India for elections? They don't need money."

His remarks follow his repeated attacks on USAID for allocating $21 million in funding to India for “voter turnout”. In his speech, Trump also accused India of taking advantage of the US. "$18 million for helping India with its elections. Why the hell? Why don't we just go to old paper ballots, and let them help us with their elections, right? Voter ID. Wouldn't that be nice? We're giving money to India for elections. They don't need money," he said.

"They take advantage of us pretty good. One of the highest tariff nations in the world...We have a 200 per cent (tariff) there and then we're giving them a lot of money to help them with their election," Trump said.

As with most of his statements, this one seemed a delicate mix of exaggeration and straight out fabrication, though at this point all of it is still alleged. However, the '200 per cent tariff' comment is perfectly designed to inflame the MAGA brigade.

Earlier this month, India's Union Budget 2025-26 introduced significant tariff reductions on several products with an eye on American exports. Among the key reductions was a reduction of duty on fish hydrolysate for the manufacture of aquatic feed from 15 to 5 per cent, and reduced duties on Ethernet switches from 20 to 10 per cent. None of which, of course, have come up in Trump's speeches.

Trump also criticised USAID for allegedly giving $29 million to Bangladesh, once again an unverified claim. "$29 million goes to strengthen the political landscape and help them out so that they can vote for a radical left communist in Bangladesh," Trump said, conveniently without naming anyone.

External affairs minister S. Jaishankar on Saturday said the information put out by the Trump administration is "concerning" and that the government is looking into it.

During an interaction at an event in New Delhi, he also said USAID was allowed in India "in good faith, to do good faith activities", and suggestions now emanating out of America suggest "there are activities which are in bad faith".

"So, it surely warrants a look. And, if there is something to it, I think the country should know who are the people involved in the bad faith activities," the minister said. This, after Trump's claim on Saturday that the $21 million had gone to "my friend PM Modi".

The Congress on Saturday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to “talk to his friend” and strongly refute the allegation.

On Thursday, at a Republican Governors Association meeting, Trump had claimed that the $21 million funding to India for 'voter turnout' was a “kickback” scheme, as he continued to attack the previous Biden administration.

Trump had raised similar concerns on Thursday and Wednesday, days after his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) led by Elon Musk claimed that USAID contributed $21 million to the Election Commission to boost voter turnout in India as he listed items on which the “US taxpayer dollars were going to be spent”.

On 16 February, DOGE also noted that all of the items had been cancelled.

With IANS inputs