KATHMANDU: U.S. President Donald Trump has criticized U.S. foreign aid to Nepal and India, calling it unnecessary and a misuse of taxpayer money.
Speaking at an event while reading from a document prepared by the Department of Government Efficiency (DoGE), Trump questioned why millions of dollars had been allocated to these countries under various aid programs.
Among the funding he criticized was USD 20 million provided to Nepal for fiscal federalism. Trump labeled the expenditure as fraudulent, saying, “We have sent $20 million to Nepal’s fiscal federation. Listen to these numbers, all of these are frauds.”
Similarly, he objected to USD 19 million sent to Nepal for biodiversity conservation, calling the aid unnecessary.
Trump also raised concerns about U.S. financial aid to India, particularly a USD 21 million grant aimed at increasing voter participation. He questioned why the U.S. should be funding electoral processes in a country with significant financial resources.
“Why are we giving this aid in the name of Indian voters? They got a lot of money there in the name of increasing the voting percentage. But India is also one of the countries that imposes the most taxes,” he said.
While expressing his respect for India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Trump maintained that such foreign aid was wasteful. His comments come amid broader discussions within U.S. political circles about reducing international assistance and prioritizing domestic spending.
The document released by Trump includes details of multiple aid programs provided to various countries, including Nepal and India, under previous administrations. His remarks align with his long-standing stance against large-scale foreign aid, which he previously attempted to cut during his presidency.
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