Trump Accuses Biden Administration of Election Interference in India Through USAID Funding

The $21 million USAID allocation for voter turnout in India, now canceled by Elon Musk-led DOGE, has sparked political tensions and allegations of foreign meddling.

Donald Trump criticized the Biden administration for approving $21 million in USAID funding aimed at increasing voter turnout in India, questioning its purpose and alleging it was intended to influence India's elections.
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, revealed and canceled the funding as part of broader cuts to what it deemed unnecessary foreign expenditures.
India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accused the funding of constituting external interference in India's electoral process, linking it to opposition parties and international organizations like George Soros's Open Society Foundations.
Former Chief Election Commissioner S.Y. Quraishi refuted claims of foreign financing tied to a 2012 memorandum of understanding between India's Election Commission and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES).
The controversy follows the BJP's reduced majority in India's 2024 general elections, where it retained power with the support of its National Democratic Alliance (NDA) allies.