Donald Trump brings up USAID again, says Joe Biden admin gave India $18m to help with polls

US President Donald Trump has claimed that the Biden administration allocated $18 million in funding to India to help with its elections, arguing that the country doesn't need this money.

His remarks during a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Saturday after he repeatedly attacked the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for allocating $21 million in funding to India for "voter turnout".

In his speech, Trump also accused India of taking advantage of the US. "$18 million for helping India with its elections. Why the hell? Why don't we just go to old paper ballots, and let them help us with their elections, right? Voter ID. Wouldn't that be nice? We're giving money to India for elections. They don't need money," he said.

"They take advantage of us pretty good. One of the highest tariff nations in the world... We have a 200% (tariffs) there and then we're giving them a lot of money to help them with their election," Trump said.

With repeated USAID funding claims, Trump keeps India political pot boiling
He also criticised USAID for giving $29 million to Bangladesh. "$29 million goes to strengthen the political landscape and help them out so that they can vote for a radical left communist in Bangladesh," he said, without naming anyone.

Trump has repeatedly claimed that USAID under the previous administration led by Joe Biden allocated $21 million in funding to India for "voter turnout", sparking a row in the country over the assistance.

External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Saturday said the information put out by the Trump administration people is "concerning" and that the govt is looking into it.