His statement comes amid a media report clarifying that the funds were actually allocated to Bangladesh in 2022 and not India. Citing this report, the Congress rejected the BJP’s accusations of foreign involvement in India’s elections.
Repeating the statement, Trump once again said, “…$21 million going to my friend Prime Minister Narendra Modi and India for voter turnout. We are giving $21 million for voter turnout in India. What about us? I want voter turnout too.”
Trump firmly stated that a “$29 million fund was granted to strengthen the political landscape in Bangladesh,” directly contradicting the claims made in the media report.
Sharing Trump’s video on X (formerly Twitter), the BJP took a jab at the opposition, which had used the media report to attack the saffron party.
“For the third day in a row, US President Donald Trump reiterates his claim about USAID funding efforts to promote voter turnout in India. But what does he know about his own country’s spending? The Indian Express and the deranged Left think they know better!” BJP leader Amit Malviya wrote.
For the third day in a row, US President Donald Trump reiterates his claim about USAID funding efforts to promote voter turnout in India. He says, “We’re giving $21 million for voter turnout in India. What about us? I want voter turnout too.”
But what does he know about his own… pic.twitter.com/VTch3lr21r
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) February 22, 2025
What did the media report say?
A fact-check report by The Indian Express on USAID funding claimed that $21 million was allocated in 2022 for Bangladesh, not India.
The report further stated that of the total $21 million, $13.4 million has already been disbursed, apparently for “political and civic engagement” for the students in Bangladesh embroiled in protests in the run-up to the January 2024 elections.
Referring to the report, Congress leader Pawan Khera said, “Isn’t it anti national of the BJP to immediately start pointing fingers at the opposition parties without first verifying facts and also without realising that the BJP has been in the opposition for the longest period of time and has from time to time taken direct and unethical help from external forces to unsettle the govt?”
Another party leader Jairam Ramesh also shared the report attacking the ruling BJP-led government.
Lies first mouthed in Washington.
Lies then amplified by BJP’s Jhoot Sena.
Lies made to be debated on Godi media.
Lies now thoroughly exposed.
Will the Liars apologise? pic.twitter.com/nY7iP4jmnN
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) February 21, 2025
On February 16, the US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) declared that it had “cancelled” multiple foreign aid initiatives, including a “$21 million grant for voter turnout in India.”
This statement bolstered the BJP’s argument, allowing it to accuse the Congress of purportedly leveraging foreign funds to influence India’s elections.
