Trump’s Criticism of USAID Funding to India
On Thursday, Donald Trump reiterated his criticism of the $21 million in US government aid given to India in 2012 through the global aid agency USAID, which was intended for ‘voter turnout’. He called it a “kickback scheme” and said, “What do I care about it? We have enough problems of our own.” However, Trump did not provide any proof or further explanation for his claim.
Trump’s Remarks at Republican Governors’ Meeting
Speaking to a gathering of Republican Party governors, Trump questioned, “Can you imagine all that money going to India? I wonder what they think when they get it. It’s a kickback scheme… they send it back to the people who gave it to them.” He also criticized $29 million given to Bangladesh for “strengthening its political landscape” and questioned the use of US taxpayer money for such projects. He added, “We’ve got enough problems here, and all of this is terminated. There were so many other cases like this, but they were all terrible.”
Trump Questions the Spending of US Taxpayer Money
Earlier on Wednesday, Trump had asked why the US was spending $21 million on India’s voters, emphasizing that India is a wealthy country and does not need foreign aid.
BJP Uses Trump’s Remarks to Attack Rahul Gandhi
In India, Trump’s comments were picked up by the BJP to attack Congress MP Rahul Gandhi. This followed Gandhi’s comments in May 2023, made at an event in the UK, where he called on the US and European nations to recognize that a large part of the global democratic model had broken down. The BJP strongly criticized Gandhi, accusing him of insulting India abroad.
BJP’s Malviya and Bhandari React to Trump’s “Kickback” Claim
Today, BJP leaders Amit Malviya and Pradeep Bhandari responded to Trump’s “kickback” comment. They claimed that the $21 million was used to sustain “deep state assets” in India and accused Rahul Gandhi and Congress of benefiting from the funds. Malviya posted on X, saying, “After Trump spoke about the $21 million going to India for ‘voter turnout’, he has repeated the charge, saying this money sustains deep-state assets who work to defend such revelations.” Bhandari also said, “Trump has again said $21 million was used for ‘voter turnout’ and called it a ‘kickback scheme’. An investigation is needed to see if Rahul Gandhi and Congress benefited from this!”
A day after US President Donald Trump spoke about $21 million being sent to India for voter turnout, he has reiterated the charge. And no, he is not confusing it with the $29 million funneled into Bangladesh. This time, he has also mentioned kickbacks. Essentially, this money is… pic.twitter.com/Eaj9uXcFx4
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) February 21, 2025
Congress’ Response and Allegations of Anti-India Narratives
Neither Rahul Gandhi nor Congress has responded to the BJP’s accusations. The BJP also linked the funding issue to George Soros, alleging that the money was routed through USAID and Soros’s philanthropic organizations to publish “anti-India” narratives. They claimed these narratives were amplified by Congress, especially before elections, in an attempt to defame India. Congress has strongly denied these allegations and demanded a detailed investigation and a White Paper to track the use of USAID funds in India.
Controversy Over USAID Funding Cuts
The BJP and Congress have been in a heated battle since Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by billionaire Elon Musk, canceled USAID funding to India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and several African nations, citing cost-cutting measures.