In a bold move on Tuesday (18 February), US President Donald Trump defended the decision of the Elon Musk-led US Department of Government Efficiency (DoGE) to cancel a $21 million grant initially intended to boost voter turnout in India.
The cancellation of the funding, announced on Saturday (15 February), stirred controversy and prompted Trump to question the use of US taxpayer money for foreign initiatives.
Speaking from his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, Trump expressed his concerns over the allocation, especially when India, as one of the world’s highest-taxing nations, does not appear to require such foreign aid, reports WION News.
“Why are we giving $21 million to India? They have far more financial resources at their disposal. 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,” Trump remarked.
While he expressed respect for India and its Prime Minister, he emphasised the pressing need to focus on domestic issues.
“What about voter turnout here?” he added.
The cancellation of the grant has ignited a wider debate about foreign interference in India's electoral process, with critics questioning the motivations behind such aid.
Trump’s statement, however, suggests a growing sentiment within his administration that taxpayer funds should be directed towards addressing issues within the United States rather than abroad.
