Trump slams $21 million US funding for ‘voter turnout in India,’ calls it unnecessary: ‘They have a lot more money’

Trump slams $21 million US funding for 'voter turnout in India,' calls it unnecessary: 'They have a lot more money'

US President Donald Trump lashed out at a $21 million US taxpayer-funded initiative for voter turnout in India, questioning the need for such financial support to a country with a booming economy and high taxation rates.
Speaking at Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday while signing executive orders, Trump expressed his disbelief. “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?” he said.
His comments came after the US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by billionaire Elon Musk, announced the cancellation of several taxpayer-funded programs, including the controversial voter turnout initiative in India. On February 16, DOGE released a list of nixed expenditures, citing concerns over wasteful spending.
Amit Malviya, the BJP’s IT Cell chief, reacted sharply to the revelations, calling it a case of “external interference in India’s electoral process.” “$21M for voter turnout? This definitely is external interference in India’s electoral process. Who gains from this? Not the ruling party for sure!” Malviya posted on X.
The India-bound funds were part of a broader list of initiatives axed by DOGE, including:

  • $10 million for voluntary medical male circumcision in Mozambique.
  • $486 million for the “Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening,” which included $22 million for Moldova and $21 million for India.
  • $29 million for “strengthening the political landscape” in Bangladesh.
  • $39 million for “fiscal federalism” and biodiversity conservation in Nepal.
  • $1.5 million for “voter confidence” in Liberia.
  • $14 million for “social cohesion” in Mali.
  • $2.5 million for “inclusive democracies” in Southern Africa.
  • $47 million for “improving learning outcomes in Asia.”

Musk’s DOGE department framed these cuts as part of a broader push to eliminate unnecessary foreign expenditures, a move that has sparked debate over US priorities. While some have praised the initiative for reducing wasteful spending, critics argue that slashing funds for democratic and social programs may have unintended consequences.



Source link

Visited 1 times, 1 visit(s) today

Related Article

Nothing Phone (3) hands-on – GSMArena.com news

Nothing has a new flagship phone – say hello to the Nothing Phone (3). The freshly announced Phone (3) arrives nearly two years after the Phone (2), and there are plenty of differentiating factors between the two. Let’s start with the back, since it’s always been a key area on Nothing devices. Phone (3) brings

Nothing’s ‘first true flagship’ phone plays it a little safe

“The Glyph interface is not a gimmick,” Nothing founder and CEO Carl Pei told the press as he revealed the Nothing Phone 3 for the first time, shortly before announcing that its new iteration lets you play Spin the Bottle on the back of the phone. It’s mixed messaging, but in Nothing’s defense, you couldn’t

What the End of COVID Mask Mandates Has Meant for Baristas

Though new strains of coronavirus are going around, most establishments have lifted mask mandates and aren’t planning to bring them back. Today, we explore how this has been impacting coffee workers. BY MELINA DEVONEYBARISTA MAGAZINE ONLINE Featured photo by Getty Images Lara* is a server at a busy high-end restaurant in Los Angeles. She continued

Nothing Phone (3) brings Glyph Matrix, Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 and 5,150mAh battery

The Nothing Phone (3) is one of the most anticipated phones of the year and it brings a bold redesign alongside several generational spec upgrades. The Glyph Interface has evolved into the Glyph Matrix – a monochrome LED display located at the top left corner of the phone’s back. Comprised of 489 individually lit

Realme GT 7 series first in line to get Android 16, followed by GT 6

In a short press release Realme promised to be among the first to deliver Android 16 to its flagship lineup. Of course, it’s no surprise that the GT 7 series will be the first phones from Realme’s portfolio to get the latest and greatest from Google. The Realme GT 7 Pro with Snapdragon 8 Elite,

Europe Mobile Phone Insurance Ecosystem Market 2025 Industry

Mobile Phone Insurance Ecosystem Market Introduction: The Mobile Phone Insurance Ecosystem Market is experiencing significant growth, fueled by the increasing sophistication and value of mobile devices, coupled with a heightened consumer awareness of potential risks. The market’s expansion is driven by several key factors, including the rising cost of smartphones, the increasing reliance on mobile

Google Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL’s specs surface

Google is expected to unveil the Pixel 10 series next month, and although the Mountain View-based internet search giant hasn’t divulged any details about the lineup yet, CAD-based renders that leaked in March revealed what the Pixel 10 series smartphones would look like. The same source has now shared specs of the Google Pixel 10

RedMagic Astra Gaming Tablet launches globally, starts from €469/$469

RedMagic’s Tablet 3 Pro launched in China last month, and it’s now ready to take on global markets. Now called the RedMagic Astra Gaming Tablet, this is every bit the compact tablet beast that its Chinese counterpart is. The tablet is built around a 9.06-inch display with uniform 4.9mm bezels. The panel is outstanding –

Baseus brings latest Enercore chargers and powerbanks with retractable USB-C cables

Originally announced back at CES, Baseus is now bringing its Enercore line of chargers and power banks globally. These come in several sizes with multiple ports, up to 100W charging speeds and max out at 20,000mAh capacities. They also share one common killer feature – retractable USB-C cables. Enercore CJ11 is the most compact offering

OnePlus Nord CE5 in for review

Today we are taking a look at the new OnePlus Nord CE5, the second phone launching next week alongside the Nord 5. We have already taken a look at the Nord 5 in a separate post and now it’s time to unbox the Nord CE5. For those unaware, the Nord series goes Nord > Nord

OnePlus Nord 5 in for review

Today we have with us the new OnePlus Nord 5, which is the latest mainline entry in the company’s affordable series of smartphones. The phone is set to launch next week alongside the Nord CE5 and today we can share a sneak peek at the device with an unboxing. Starting with the packaging, the Nord

iPhone 17 Pro series to get repositioned Apple logo

Apple may be looking to change more than the camera islands on its iPhone 17 Pro series as leakster Majin Bu is now confident that the Apple logo on the back is getting repositioned. The logo on the 17 Pro series would be positioned lower, and Apple is apparently also changing the placement of its

Oxford Spires Academy ditches smartphones for ‘brick’ phones

BBC Head teacher Louise Cowley took the decision to introduce a blanket ban over concerns smartphones were too disruptive A secondary school has banned smartphones for Year 7 to 11 pupils and will only allow basic “brick” phones from September. Oxford Spires Academy’s head teacher said the move would create a “calmer, more focused environment”.

vivo X Fold5’s India launch teased

vivo recently teased the launch of the X200 FE in India, and now the brand has announced the X Fold5 is “coming soon” to the country. vivo hasn’t revealed the launch date of the X Fold5 or the X200 FE in India, but we’ve learned from a reliable source that both smartphones will launch in

Infinix Xpad GT review – GSMArena.com tests

Introduction Last year Infinix launched the Xpad tablet with mid-range specs at an incredibly affordable price. This year, the slate is getting a more powerful big brother aimed at gaming and streaming – the Infinix Xpad GT. The Infinix Xpad GT brings a 13.0-inch LCD screen with 2,880 x 1,840 pixels, 10-bit color depth, 144Hz

0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x