US President Donald Trump unleashed a barrage of criticism on Friday, targeting a $29 million USAID grant meant to “strengthen the political landscape” in Bangladesh.
Speaking at the Governors Working Session at the White House, Trump claimed the funds went to an obscure firm, calling it a windfall for a “little outfit” with just two employees.
“They got $29 million. A cheque! Imagine you’re a small firm, scraping by with $10,000 here, $10,000 there—and then bam, $29 million from the US government,” Trump said, his tone dripping with incredulity. “Two people! I think they’re very happy. Very rich. They’ll be on the cover of a top business magazine soon—for being great scammers.”
The remarks came amid a broader riff on foreign aid, where Trump also flagged a $21 million USAID allocation for voter turnout in India. “We’re giving $21 million to my friend Prime Minister Narendra Modi for voter turnout in India. What about us? I want voter turnout too!” he quipped, turning the spotlight back to domestic priorities.
The claims trace back to a February 16 post by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Trump’s newly minted cost-cutting task force led by Tesla’s Elon Musk. DOGE listed 11 cancelled US-funded overseas projects, including the $29 million Bangladesh initiative and the $21 million India voter effort. “US taxpayer dollars were going to these items—all now scrapped,” the post declared.
In Bangladesh’s case, the fund supported the Strengthening Political Landscape (SPL) programme, a joint effort by USAID and the UK’s DFID, implemented by Democracy International. Running from 2017 to 2024, the project aimed to bolster political party capacity, enhance ties between parties and constituents, and curb political violence, according to the organization’s website. Yet Trump’s portrayal cast it as a dubious pay-out to a phantom firm—though no evidence of the “two-person” claim has surfaced.