My Opinion

US President Donald Trump has stirred a hornets’ nest by questioning former Biden administration’s move to provide $21 million to India for the ostensible reason of enhancing “voter turnout”. Addressing a summit in Miami on Thursday, Trump said, “Why do we need to spend $21 million on voter turnout in India? I guess they were trying to get somebody else elected. We have got to tell the Indian Government… This is a total breakthrough.”

At his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, Trump said, “Why are we giving $21 million to India? They got a lot more money. They are one of the highest taxing countries in the world in terms of us; we can hardly get in there because their tariffs are so high. I have a lot of respect for India and their Prime Minister, but giving $21 million for voter turnout? In India? What about voter turnout here?”

Let us try to interpret the message that Trump was trying to convey. He wants to tell that the money that was funnelled through United States Agency for International Development (USAID) was used to defeat Narendra Modi and his party BJP in last year’s Lok Sabha elections.

Trump’s remarks came a few days after the US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), headed by billionaire Elon Musk, stopped USAID funding to different countries to the tune of $ 486 million. DOGE released a list of funds that were channelled through USAID to different countries of the world for various purposes. Out of this, $21 million was earmarked for boosting “voter turnout” in India.

DOGE also said, $29 million was earmarked for “strengthening the political landscape in Bangladesh”, where former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was unseated after a violent nationwide agitation led by students and backed by the main opposition BNP and Islamic fundamentalist party Jamaat-e-Islami. At that time, there were allegations that the US “deep state” was involved in ousting Sheikh Hasina from power.

Trump’s remarks had a political fallout in India. It is known to all that much of the USAID funds are channelized through outfits floated by another billionaire George Soros. Soros is on record of having said that that he wanted to encourage moves to unseat Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The USAID money that was earmarked was to persuade Dalit and OBC voters in India to come out and take part in voting. At around the same time, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi raised his demand for a nationwide caste census. Rahul Gandhi went to the US where he said, “democracy has been under attack in India, and it has been very badly weakened.” At that time Rahul Gandhi had met several top officials of the Biden administration and US lawmakers.

After Trump’s remarks, senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad on Thursday said that Trump has confirmed that $21 million was given to influence voters’ turnout in India. “We have all along been alleging that Rahul Gandhi was trying to weaken Indian democracy and what Congress has done is a matter of disgrace for the country “, he said.

Congress described Trump’s claim as “nonsensical”. In a hard-hitting post on X, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh demanded a white paper from Modi government about USAID support given to various government organizations and NGOs in India.

What Trump has said leaves no scope for doubt. The fact is, USAID funds came from America to India in the name of increasing voters’ turnout, but they were used to destabilize Modi government. I salute the sagacity of the voters of India who were not influenced by this campaign funded by the US. The people of India voted Modi to power for the third time.

It is an open secret that Rahul Gandhi and his party benefited and Congress tally in Lok Sabha increased. What Trump has revealed is a clear admission that the US government has been bringing about changes in governments in other countries by funnelling money. The same was sought to be done in India, but that move failed. What happened in our neighbouring countries like Bangladesh and Pakistan in recent months is known to all.

Trump has put a full stop to this game. The US President does not want to spend his government’s money on destabilizing governments in other countries. This is a 360-degree turn in US policy. You can see its effects in Ukraine.

Former President Biden’s administration was providing massive support to Ukraine in its war with Russia. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was getting military and monetary support from the US in his war against Russia. The US gave $300 billion support to Ukraine, but now Trump has taken a U-turn and has opted to cut a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

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At around 2.30 am IST, when most of the people in India were sleeping, US President Donald Trump was praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the White House after official level discussion. The warmth with which Trump greeted Modi, the US President pushing the chair for the Indian PM to sit on and sign, and the effusive praise for Modi was a sight to watch.

Replying to a question at the joint press conference, Trump said, “he (Modi) is a tougher negotiator than me and he is a much better negotiator. There is not even a contest.”

Welcoming Modi with a warm hug, Trump said, “We missed you a lot”. The US President also said: “He (Modi) is doing a really great job in India. Everybody talks about him. He is doing a really fantastic job. He’s a great leader”. While presenting a book “Our Journey Together” to Modi, Trump wrote: “Mr. Prime Minister, you are GREAT”.

Naturally, such words of praise coming from the President of the world’s most powerful nation for Modi, has caused a lot of heartburn to political rivals in India.

The joint statement issued after Modi’s official meeting with Trump, named Pakistan on the issue of cross-border terrorism. “The leaders called on Pakistan to expeditiously bring to justice the perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai and Pathankot attacks, and ensure that its territory is not used to carry out cross-border terrorist attacks”, the statement said.

Peeved over this, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry described the India-US joint statement as “one-sided, misleading and against diplomatic norms”. Trump announced that the 26/11 Mumbai attacks mastermind Tahawwur Rana would be extradited to India, describing him as and “evil” and “a very violent man”. Trump added, “there are more to follow and we have quite a few requests. We work with India on crime, and we want to make things better for India.”

On Bangladesh, when a reporter sought Trump’s views on whether the Biden government carried out a regime change in Bangladesh, Trump denied that the US “deep state” played any role. Trump said: “There was no role for our deep state. This is something that the Prime Minister has been working on for a long time, frankly I have been reading about it. I will leave Bangladesh to the Prime Minister.”

Trump’s remark about Bangladesh is quite important. In the recent past, during his election campaign, the US President had raised concerns over the attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh by Islamic jihadis. Trump, at that time, had issued a warning to Islamic jihadis active in Bangladesh.

The newly appointed Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard had also condemned atrocities on Hindus in Bangladesh. Bangladesh’s interim goernment headed by Mohammed Yunus had promised to keep the Islamic jihadis on leash, which it has not done. On the contrary, violence against Hindus has increased in Bangladesh. Now, Trump has clearly indicated that he considers Modi “capable of handling Bangladesh”.

On deportation of illegal Indian migrants by the US, Modi clearly said at the joint press conference that India had no objection if Indian nationals who have illegally entered the US are deported. Modi described illegal human trafficking as a global problem in which poor and middle class Indians shell out big money to human trafficking gangs to enter America. Modi said, such gangs must be smashed.

At the joint press conference, one question was asked about Gautam Adani, Rahul Gandhi’s pet issue. When an American journalist asked Modi whether he had discussed with Trump the issue of a US Federal Court indicting Gautam Adani, Modi replied that as a Prime Minister, for him every Indian is part of his family, but “when two heads of government meet, they do not discuss issue relating to individuals.”

The problem is, whenever Modi wins laurels outside India, some of our own people here get peeved. For Rahul Gandhi, the ghost of Gautam Adani was the only issue that he noticed during Modi’s US trip. I think Modi gave a stinging reply on the Adani issue. Why should two heads of governments discuss Adani at their meeting when there are other more pressing issues on the table?

Rahul Gandhi and his followers did not notice the warmth with which Trump welcomed Modi, praised him as a “tough and better negotiator” and wrote about Modi, “you are great” on a book. If the US President writes and says good things about our Prime Minister, should we be happy or peeved? What Trump said about Modi is an honour for India. It is a fact that both Modi and Trump have pressing domestic issues on their hands, which are more important. Both leaders have been re-elected by the people. Both leaders have promised economic progress for their people. Both aim to take their nations to the pinnacle of prosperity. There will be negotiations and bargaining during talks and such issues are not sorted out in a day’s meeting. India-US relations are stronger than before. We should trust Modi. He is capable of dealing with Trump.

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US President Donald Trump began his second term with a bang by signing a slew of sweeping executive orders. The orders ranged from ending birthright citizenship to withdrawing the US from WHO and Paris Climate Accord. Within a span of two hours, he signed more than a hundred executive orders, each of them surprising. The rest of the world is studying the implications of his orders. Soon after Trump reached his Oval Office, the US National Guards was deployed on Mexican border to stop illegal immigration.

Trump has said that the largest deportation program in US history would begin, and illegal infiltrators would be sent back to their countries of origin. According to Bloomberg, the Trump administration has prepared a list of nearly 18,000 Indians to be deported in the first phase.

Trump signed an order declaring that granting of automatic US citizenship to children born on American soil will be discontinued. Future children born to undocumented immigrants would no longer be treated as citizens. The order would extend even to the children of mothers staying in the US legally but temporarily, such as foreign students or tourists.

Several US lawmakers of Indian American origin have decided to challenge this order. “Trump’s order removes birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S. not just to undocumented parents but to ‘lawful’ immigrants who are temporarily on a student visa, H1B/H2B visa, or business visa”, said US Congressman Ro Khanna.

Trump signed orders directing resumption of oil and natural gas production in Alaska, imposing 25 pc tariffs on Canada and Mexico starting February 1, renaming Gulf of Mexico as Gulf of America, declaring national emergency on Mexican border, halting federal government hiring except for military, declaring that the federal government shall recognize only two biological sex, male and female, rolling back transgender protections, pardoned 1,500 persons convicted or charged in the attack on US Capitol on Jan 6, 2021, and keeping TikTok operating for 75 days.

Immediately after Trump signed the orders, border immigration and customs check posts near Mexican border stopped working and the National Guards took up positions on the border. Thousands of people waiting for entry into the US were stranded, despite having prior appointments with US Immigration authorities. The CBP One app that helped in appointments and checking of documents, stopped working.

Donald Trump has shown that he is going to implement all his electoral promises. No other US President in the past had signed more than 100 executive orders on the first day in office. What Trump has done is unprecedented.

I watched Trump speaking at his inauguration ceremony on Monday night. The tenor of his speech clearly indicated that he is out to create ripples across the world. The manner in which he criticized the outgoing administration, with Joe Biden and Kamala Harris sitting and watching, was surprising. As Trump was lambasting the outgoing administration for, what he said, “a horrible betrayal” and for running “a radical and corrupt establishment”, the faces of Barack Obama and Bill Clinton were worth watching.

For Trump, deporting more than a crore illegal immigrants will be a Herculean task. This has been America’s problem for the last several years, but no US President summoned the courage and tenacity to throw them out. To identify a crore illegal immigrants and deport them is a challenging one. But, when Trump makes up his mind, he does not mind and nothing can stop him.

The other significant steps that Trump took related to trade, commerce and business. Trump administration’s decision will have implications for most of the countries of the world. China may have to bear the major brunt. Trump has eyed all those business sectors which are presently under Chinese dominance. During his campaign, Trump had promised to regain America’s past glory in business and end China’s dominance. He has already started working from Day One.

India will have to be recast its strategy for dealing with Trump’s new immigration and trade policies. India is today one of the fastest growing economies of the world. Each trade related decision by the US can affect Indian industry. The implications will be known as the picture becomes clearer.

In the midst of euphoria over the historic comeback of Donald Trump as 47th President of the United States, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, after posting his congratulatory tweet to “my dear friend”, telephoned to greet him on his victory. During the conversation, Donald Trump, according to sources, repeatedly described India as a “magnificent country” and Modi as “a magnificent leader whom much of the world loves”. Trump described the conversation as among the first he had with a head of government after his victory. The question is: what will be the implications on India and her neighbours after a regime change in the White House? Will the Modi-Trump personal chemistry work towards strengthening bilateral relations? Trump is known as a hard bargainer and a sharp businessman. Will it affect India-US trade ties? Trump is a hawk on the issue of immigrant policies. Will it make U.S. visa rules tougher?

Trump’s victory vis-a-vis India can be seen from two angles:

One, his personal friendship with Narendra Modi. Both know each other very well. Trump follows a personalized style in diplomacy and on many occasions, he has described Modi as his friend and a strong leader. This is going to benefit India. Two, India’s diplomacy requirements. China has been posing a challenge to India in the last one decade, and Trump’s friendship with Modi will have its effect here too. Justin Trudeau in Canada has become a headache for India because of his overt support to Khalistani separatists and the outgoing Biden administration had been extending support to Trudeau. These equations are going to change and India will emerge stronger.

BANGLADESH

Trump’s recent statement about atrocities being perpetrated on Hindus in Bangladesh has been widely welcomed in India. On Diwali Festival (October 31), five days before voting, Trump wrote on X: “I strongly condemn the barbaric violence against Hindus, Christians and other minorities, who are getting attacked and looted by mobs in Bangladesh, which remains in a total state of chaos. It would have never happened on my watch. Kamala and Joe have ignored Hindus across the world and in America….We will also protect Hindu Americans against the anti-religion agenda of the radical left. We will fight for your freedom…”. No American President in the last two centuries had ever said that he was a true friend of Hindus in the White House. The impact will surely be seen. Trump’s victory will affect both Pakistan and Bangladesh. Already, there are some straws in the wind. Deposed Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, staying in exile in India, sent a message of congratulation, as head of Awami League, to Donald Trump, in which she said, she was willing to work with him for improving bilateral relations. The present interim government in Bangladesh is headed by economist Mohammed Yunus, considered to be close to the Clinton family. There are reports that Sheikh Hasina’s government was deposed by him with help from Biden administration.

PAKISTAN

As far as Pakistan is concerned, jailed former PM Imran Khan’s supporters are ecstatic over Trump’s victory and are already celebrating. They are optimistic about Imran’s early release from jail after pressure from Trump administration. But one must remember, it was Trump who, with Imran Khan sitting by his side, had said, Pakistan was sheltering terrorists and he would finish off their bases. It was Trump who had put a brake on 24 billion US dollars assistance to Pakistan.

CHINA

India’s third and biggest neighbour China is already worried after Trump’s win. During his earlier tenure, Trump had unleashed a trade war against China, and imposed heavy tariff on Chinese goods. He had toughened scrutiny of most of the Chinese companies, and this had affected US-China business. A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said, “we respect the choice of the American people…China will work with the US on the basis of mutual respect”.

EUROPE, MIDDLE EAST

European leaders have adopted a line of caution after Trump’s win, given his known stand that European countries must bear their security costs themselves. Trump’s win will have immediate repercussions on the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war, in which the US have been providing finance and military aid to Ukraine. The strategic equations in Europe may undergo a reset. The Kremlin has said, “let’s see” if Trump’s win can end the Ukraine war. On Iran, Trump has always followed a tough policy. He had exited from US nuclear deal with Tehran. This time conflicts are going on in Gaza and Lebanon and Trump’s policies will be interesting to note. One must bear in mind what External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said about war. Jaishankar said, he does not think the US would like to be part of any war now. The reverse will be the case and Trump may chose to withdraw US troops and armaments from most of the conflict zones. Jaishankar has said that this withdrawal from conflict zones had already begun since the time Barack Obama was president. Joe Biden withdrew US troops from Afghanistan, and Trump has already said that US will not join any war.

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