Kickback Scheme... Why Should I Care? Trump on USAID as BJP Criticizes Congress

 

Kickback Scheme... Why Should I Care? Trump on USAID as BJP Criticizes Congress

The political debate between the BJP and Congress has intensified following the cancellation of USAID funding to India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and several African countries by Trump's Department of Government Efficiency.

On Thursday, Donald Trump reiterated his doubts regarding the $21 million in United States aid allocated for India through the global aid organization USAID in 2012, intended for voter engagement. He labeled it a "kickback scheme," exclaiming, "What do I care about that? We have our own issues to deal with." 

However, the US President did not provide additional details to support his claim or any evidence.

While speaking to a group of state Governors from his party, Trump remarked, "Can you believe that amount of money is going to India? I often wonder how they feel about receiving it. It's essentially a kickback scheme... you know, they send it back to those who put it up in the first place..."

He elaborated, "In many of these situations, whenever there's a lack of clarity on what we're discussing, it suggests there's a kickback involved since no one seems to understand what is happening there." Trump also questioned a $29 million grant aimed at "enhancing the political landscape" in Bangladesh.

"What do I care? We've got plenty of our own issues... all of this is over and done with. We have put an end to these types of things and are moving forward. By the way, there are countless others I could go on about all night, but many were so atrocious," he stated.

On Wednesday, Trump expressed confusion about why US taxpayer dollars were being spent on Indian voters, saying, "Why are we sending $21 million to India? They have ample resources."

In India, Trump's statements—including accusations against former President Joe Biden of "trying to get someone else elected" during last year's Lok Sabha election, which the BJP won—were utilized to target Congress MP Rahul Gandhi for remarks he made in the UK ahead of the 2024 election. This morning, building on Trump's "kickback" statement, BJP leaders Amit Malviya and Pradeep Bhandari asserted that the funds had been employed to support "deep state assets" in India, accusing Gandhi and "the Congress ecosystem" of benefiting from the $21 million.