US President Donald Trump on Wednesday made the biggest admission hinting American deep state's hands during the 2019 and 2024 Lok Sabha Elections in India. Addressing the FII PRIORITY Summit, US President Trump shed light on DOGE scrapping $21 million aid to India over 'voters turnout'. Donald Trump during his address said, "... Why do we need to spend $21 million on voter turnout in India? I guess they were trying to get somebody else elected. We have got to tell the Indian Government... This is a total breakthrough..."
This is the first time, Donald Trump has partially confessed or dropped a hint that the US interfered in India's internal matters, especially politics. During PM Modi's visit to India, the media asked the American President about the involvement of the American deep state in India's politics especially with USAID controversy in the backdrop. Trump had denied the claims that US Deep State tried to destabilise the Modi Government when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was sitting beside him but accepted that the BJP government did not share a cordial bond with the Biden administration.
Before this, US President Trump stated that India, with its growing economy and high taxes, did not need such financial assistance. While signing executive orders at Mar-a-Lago, the US President expressed respect for India and its Prime Minister, while also criticizing the idea of funding voter turnout initiatives in the country.
"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.
What is the USAID controversy?
Under the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) program, various schemes are running in about 120 countries. In 2023, under the program of this agency, $ 72 billion was given to various countries and institutions.
Recently, US President Donald Trump ordered the closure of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The Trump administration has accused the agency of misusing American taxpayers' money.
Former US State Department Senior official Mike Benz has alleged that the US has interfered in India's internal politics. Not only this, the US has also tried to interfere in Bangladesh's politics.
Organizations like USAID have tried to influence India's 2019 Lok Sabha elections. This organization has prepared an election narrative against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP through funding. He has given this information by posting it on his social media handle.
Benz claims that the US State Department tried to ban pro-Modi content by influencing big tech companies like Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube, and Twitter (now X). In January 2019, WhatsApp had limited message forwarding.
Not only this, Benz alleges that many other organizations including organizations associated with USAID, along with major international media and digital forensic groups, prepared such a report, in which India was shown to be facing a serious crisis of misinformation.
It is pertinent to mention here that on February 10, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey has claimed that the American organisation USAID is funding various organizations to divide India. On Monday in the Lok Sabha, he has demanded that this matter should be investigated and the culprits should be punished. It is expected that with these claims of Benz, the allegations of Nishikant Dubey will now be taken more seriously.