Biden tried to get somebody else elected in India 

U.S. President Donald Trump has once again questioned the Biden administration's decision to allocate $21 million to India for “voter turnout”, guessing that they were trying to "get somebody else elected".

Mr. Trump made these remarks while addressing the FII PRIORITY Summit in Miami on Thursday (February 20, 2025). He had raised similar concerns earlier, questioning the necessity of such financial aid.

In the 2024 election year, the US allocated $5.5 million toward voter turnout initiatives, and in 2023, $6.1 million was spent under the same head. 

Over the past four years, the total commitment for democratic participation was $20.1 million, with $13.25 million disbursed (see table).

However, the data does not specify the organisations that received the funds, making it unclear where the money went or the direct impact on voter turnout. However, the US released only $13.5 million in the same period, against the commitment of $20.1 million under the head of Democratic Participation and Civil Society during the Biden administration’s period of 2021-24.

Curiously, the major funds were disbursed during the pre-General election year 2023 and the general election year 2024.

In 2024, it disbursed $5.5 million against a commitment of $6.8 million, and in 2023, it overspent $6.1 million against a commitment of $4.1 million to its partner organisations.

Source: Agencies