'Wouldn’t That be Nice': Did Trump Suggest India Should Help US with Its Elections?

Washington: US President Donald Trump has once again raised concerns over USAID funding to India, questioning the allocation of $18 million for election-related purposes. Speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Saturday, Trump took a swipe at the funding, suggesting that instead of receiving aid, India should help the US with its own elections. 

Raising the issue for the fourth time in a week and the second time in a single day, Trump mocked the idea of providing election funding to India that, according to him, ‘doesn’t need it’. "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, implying that India, which conducts large-scale elections, could help US with its own election. 

Calls for Paper Ballot Voting in US  

Trump also called for Ballot Paper Elections in United States. He suggested that why don't US get to back old Paper Ballot after he recently won the US Presidential elections. 

His remarks come amid growing debate in the US over election integrity, with several conservatives pushing for a shift back to paper ballots instead of electronic voting machines.  

READ MORE: Trump’s New ‘Kickback Scheme’ Remark on $21Mn USAID to India Triggers Fresh Row | What We Know

Trade Policies Under Fire  

Shifting focus from elections, Trump also launched an attack on India’s trade policies, alleging that the country imposes high tariffs on American goods while benefiting from US financial assistance.  

“They take advantage of us pretty good. One of the highest tariffed nations in the world. We try and sell something. They have a 200 percent tariff. And then we’re giving them a lot of money to help them with their election,” he said, criticising the trade imbalance between the two nations.  

ALSO READ: Third Day In A Row, Trump Reiterates the USAID Attempt To Manipulate Indian Elections

Musk Joins the Debate on Voting Machines  

While Trump targeted election funding and trade policies, Elon Musk, the owner of X (formerly Twitter), stirred controversy by renewing claims about voting machines being used to rig elections. Speaking at a town hall in Pennsylvania, Musk alleged that Dominion voting machines were responsible for Republican losses in key battlegrounds like Philadelphia and Arizona.  

“There’s always a sort of question of like, say, the Dominion voting machines. It is weird that you know, I think they’re used in Philadelphia and Maricopa County, but not in a lot of other places,” Musk said, advocating for a return to paper ballots and hand-counted votes nationwide.