US President Donald Trump questioned the purpose of providing $21 million to India for “voter turnout” as he reiterated that the US “can hardly get in there” because of high Indian tariffs. Trump also said “India is one of the highest taxing countries in the world”. He made these remarks after Elon Musk-led DOGE’s (Department of Government Efficiency) disclosed that USAID contributed $21 million to the Election Commission of India for boosting voter turnout.

On February 16, DOGE, led by billionaire SpaceX CEO Musk, listed items on which the “US taxpayer dollars were going to be spent” and the list included $ 21 million for voter turnout in India. DOGE noted that all of the items have been cancelled. The list also included $29 million to “strengthening political landscape in Bangladesh”, $20 million for “fiscal federalism” and $19 million for “biodiversity conversation” in Nepal, as well as $47 million for “improving learning outcomes in Asia”.