The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday gave a measured response to Donald Trump’s praise of its voter identification rules. The MEA said the “credibility and robustness” of India’s election machinery are well established globally.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal was asked about Trump’s comments during the ministry’s weekly press briefing. He responded: “I have no specific comment to make on the remarks. I can say, however, that the credibility and robustness of India’s election machinery are well-established facts globally.”
Trump had invoked India’s electoral system and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar while making another pitch for mandatory photo identification for voters in the US.
TRUMP POINTS TO INDIA’S ELECTION SYSTEM
The US President said Gyanesh Kumar had questioned how elections could be held in the US without valid photo identification.
“Earlier this month, India’s Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar, asked our Administration — How can you have Elections in the US without a valid Photo ID? India’s last Election had 646,000,000 Voters! Less than 1 per cent voted by mail, and every single Voter had to have a VALID Photo Identity Document. We need to pass THE SAVE AMERICA ACT, now!” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.
Trump’s comments were aimed at bolstering his campaign for the SAVE America Act, a proposed law that would introduce stricter voter registration and identification requirements for federal elections.
The Republican leader has made election integrity a major part of his domestic political agenda. His latest reference to India’s system puts the country’s election machinery directly into an American debate over voting rules.
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Published By:
Satyam Singh
Published On:
Aug 18, 2026 20:02 IST
