Donald Trump’s allegation that the Biden administration allocated $21 million to India to influence "voter turnout" in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections has been refuted by a Washington Post report, which found no evidence of such a program under USAID, the United States’ international development agency. Instead, the report clarified that USAID had a $21 million contract for Bangladesh, not India, effectively debunking Trump’s claim and sparking a heated political battle in India.
The controversy began when DOGE, a department reportedly linked to Elon Musk, claimed that it had canceled a $21 million grant to India, which was allegedly part of a larger $486 million payment to the Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening (CEPPS)—a USAID-funded coalition of non-profits. However, the Washington Post report, citing three sources familiar with US aid programs, categorically stated that no such funding had been directed toward India for voter turnout efforts.
"We were all shocked to see that claim from DOGE. We don’t know anything about elections in India because we have never been involved," a USAID official told the Washington Post. Another US official suggested that the department led by Musk might have been "conflating numbers" from different programs, reinforcing doubts about the validity of the claim.
Trump, however, has continued to push the narrative, repeating the charge multiple times without providing any supporting evidence. Earlier this week, he went as far as to suggest that the alleged funding might have been used to interfere in India’s elections, stating, "Why do we need to spend USD 21 million for voter turnout in India? I guess they (the Biden administration) were trying to get somebody else elected. We have got to tell the Indian government." His comments have fueled speculation and misinformation, creating a political storm both in the United States and India.
The Washington Post’s findings support an earlier report by the Indian Express, which also confirmed that India has not received any USAID funding for election-related projects since 2008. The Express report has been central to the escalating political feud between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition Congress party. Congress leaders have seized upon the Washington Post’s investigation, using it as ammunition against the BJP, while the ruling party remains focused on deflecting attention toward its critics.
Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera took to social media to attack the BJP, stating that the ruling party and its "blind supporters" would now have to "eat their words" following the revelations. The Congress has sought to portray the BJP as complicit in spreading falsehoods and misleading the public, using the controversy to mount a political offensive against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government.
On the other hand, the BJP has countered these claims by accusing Congress MP Rahul Gandhi of attempting to solicit foreign intervention in India’s elections. The BJP has argued that the opposition party is leveraging international media reports to discredit Modi’s leadership, while also implying that Congress is engaged in behind-the-scenes efforts to seek external support.
The controversy has quickly evolved into a high-stakes political battle, with both parties using it as a tool to shape the narrative ahead of the general elections. The BJP is likely to continue positioning itself as a defender of India’s sovereignty, dismissing the allegations as baseless, while the Congress will use the Washington Post report to strengthen its attack on the Modi government.
With the elections approaching, the issue is expected to remain in the spotlight, as both domestic and international political figures weigh in on the matter. The allegations, denials, and countercharges have not only deepened political divisions in India but have also sparked debates about foreign influence, misinformation, and the role of global media in shaping public perception.
