Donald Trump on USD 21 million fund cut for voter turnout in India, says they have a lot of money

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday defended the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) decision to cancel a USD 21 million fund designated for voter turnout in India, questioning the need for such financial support given India’s economic growth and high tariffs.

“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?” Trump said after signing executive orders at Mar-a-Lago.

The decision follows an announcement made by DOGE on February 16, led by Elon Musk, stating that USD 22 million in US taxpayer-funded spending had been cancelled, including the allocation for voter turnout in India.

In a post on X, DOGE outlined the funds that had been revoked, listing “USD 21M for voter turnout in India” among them. The department emphasised that all cancelled expenditures were part of a broader effort to cut unnecessary spending.

Donald Trump signed three executive orders on Tuesday, including one aimed at making in vitro fertilisation (IVF) more affordable across the country.

Trump also reaffirmed plans to impose tariffs on imported vehicles, setting the rate at around 25%. Speaking to reporters at his Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, he said, “I’ll probably tell you that on April 2, but it’ll be in the neighbourhood of 25%.”

During the press conference, Trump also addressed the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, dismissing Ukraine’s frustration over being left out of recent US-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia while expressing confidence in a potential peace deal.

Defending the discussions between US and Russian officials in Riyadh, Trump said Ukraine should have engaged in negotiations much earlier. “I’m very disappointed. I hear that, you know, they’re upset about not having a seat. Well, they’ve had a seat for three years and a long time before that. This could have been settled very easily,” he remarked.

In addition to auto tariffs, Trump announced plans to unilaterally impose 25% import taxes on pharmaceuticals and microchips as early as April 1, despite concerns that such measures could drive up inflation-an issue he had vowed to address during his campaign.

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