Archive · 18 Aug 2026
Congress Jibes as Trump Praises India's Voter ID System
Donald Trump praised India’s election rules because voters must show photo identification.
He said India’s last general election had 646 million voters and that every voter had valid identification.
Trump used this example to support a proposed US law called the SAVE Act.
The law would require identification and proof of citizenship to register for federal elections.
Some Democrats and Republicans in the United States disagree about the proposal.
India’s Congress party criticized the praise because it says Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar is biased toward the ruling party.
Congress leader Pawan Khera jokingly told Trump to take Kumar and India’s voting machines to America.
The Election Commission says India’s elections are free and fair, and US Ambassador Sergio Gor supported Trump’s position.
Congress leader Pawan Khera sarcastically urged Donald Trump to take Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to the United States and offered to send India’s EVMs.
Trump cited India’s 2024 general election, saying 646 million voters participated and every voter had valid photo identification.
Trump renewed his call for the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility, or SAVE, Act, which would require identification and proof of citizenship for federal voter registration.
The White House says the bill would ensure that only US citizens decide federal elections, while the US Senate has taken no concrete action on it.
US Ambassador Sergio Gor endorsed Trump’s position, while India’s Congress continues to allege bias by Kumar and the Election Commission maintains that Indian elections are free and fair.
- Who
- US President Donald Trump, Congress leader Pawan Khera, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, US Ambassador Sergio Gor, and India’s Election Commission.
- What
- Trump cited India’s voter-identification system while promoting the US SAVE Act, prompting Khera to sarcastically offer Kumar and India’s EVMs to the United States.
- When
- Trump’s comments were reported on Monday, while Khera’s response was reported on Tuesday; other referenced discussions occurred earlier in the month.
- Where
- The statements were made through Truth Social and X, involving India and the United States.
- Why
- Trump wants stricter identification and citizenship requirements for US federal elections, while Khera was responding to Trump’s praise of India’s electoral system and Congress’s criticism of Kumar.
Congress and SAVE Act Critics
Trump, White House and Election Officials
US voter-identification requirements
Congress and SAVE Act Critics
Congress’s Pawan Khera mocked Trump’s reliance on India’s electoral model by offering to send Gyanesh Kumar and India’s EVMs to the United States. The articles also report that Democrats and Republicans are divided over the SAVE Act.
Trump, White House and Election Officials
Trump and the White House support the SAVE Act, arguing that valid identification and proof of citizenship should help ensure that only US citizens decide federal elections.
Assessment of India’s Election Commission
Congress and SAVE Act Critics
Congress alleges that Gyanesh Kumar has behaved in a biased manner toward India’s ruling party and is not an appropriate model for the United States.
Trump, White House and Election Officials
Kumar and the Election Commission of India reject the allegations and maintain that India’s election process is free and fair. Trump and Sergio Gor presented India’s voter-identification system as a model for election integrity.
- Indian chief election commissioner
- Gyanesh Kumar
- Reported Indian election turnout
- 646 million voters
- Mail voting in cited Indian election
- Less than 1 percent
- US legislation
- Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, also called the SAVE Act or SAVE America Act
- Proposed requirements
- Valid identification and proof of citizenship to register for federal elections
- Indian opposition response
- Pawan Khera asked Trump to take Kumar to America and offered to send India’s EVMs
- US ambassador to India
- Sergio Gor
