'Why India needs our financial assistance': Donald Trump defends DOGE's decision to cut $21 million fund for voter turnout
PTC News Desk: US President Donald Trump on Wednesday has questioned $21 million fund facilitated for voter turnout in India. While defending Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency's (DOGE) decision to cut USD 21 million fund, he further raised concerns over the need for such financial support in wake of country's economic growth and high tariffs.
"Why are we giving USD 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. I have a lot of respect for India and their Prime Minister, but giving USD 21 million for voter turnout?" Trump said after signing executive orders at Mar-a-Lago.
The department emphasised that all cancelled expenditures were part of a broader effort to cut unnecessary spending.
US President's latest remarks comes days after Sanjeev Sanyal who is a member of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council joined the debate over funds to India and DOGE's decision to slash funds for India and called USAID the "biggest scam in human history".
In a tweet, Sanyal said, "Would love to find out who received the US$21mn spent to improve 'voter turnout in India' and the US$29mn to 'strengthening political landscape in Bangladesh'; not to mention the US$29mn spend to improve 'fiscal federalism' in Nepal. USAID is the biggest scam in human history."
- PTC NEWS
