Donald Trump says $21 million from USAID went to ‘my friend PM Modi for voter turnout’ in India

United States President Donald Trump on Friday repeated his allegations $21 million in funding was given by the United States Agency for International Development for “voter turnout” in India, claiming that this money went to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

His statements come amid a row between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress, with both parties accusing the other of being the beneficiary of the purported funding.

At an event on Friday, Trump questioned why substantial amounts were being sent abroad when they could be used to support the American economy.

“And $21 million going to my friend Prime Minister [Narendra] Modi in India for voter turnout,” Trump said. “We’re giving $21 million for voter turnout in India. What about us? I want voter turnout too.”

On February 16, the Department of Government Efficiency under Trump’s administration announced that it had cancelled several international aid initiatives through USAID “costing taxpayers’ dollars”.

USAID is an independent agency that is mainly responsible for administering foreign aid and development assistance on behalf of the US government. Trump had on January 24 imposed a 90-day freeze on money distributed by the organisation pending a review by the US State Department.

The list of initiatives for which funding was revoked on February 16 included $486 million in grants to the nonprofit organisation Consortium for Elections and...

Read more