Trump Cites India Election That Didn't Exist to Call U.S. Vote — SkimNews
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- Trump posted on Truth Social on October 4, 2026, claiming '125 million people voted in India's Presidential elections' with same-day results, using it to declare 'Voting in America is CORRUPT' due to weeks-long U.S. vote counts
- No Indian presidential election occurred — President Droupadi Murmu (in office since July 2022) remains in place, and India's president is chosen by an Electoral College through proportional representation, not direct popular vote
- The 125.27 million figure matches Brazil's first-round presidential election held the same day, per Brazil's electoral authority, suggesting a country mix-up; Brazil's Lula da Silva vs. Flavio Bolsonaro runoff is set for October 25
- Trump has repeatedly cited Indian elections to push the SAVE America Act, claiming in August 2026 that India's 2024 election saw 646 million voters with less than 1% mail voting and mandatory voter ID
- India's Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar had asked Trump administration officials how the U.S. holds elections without photo ID, per Trump's August 17 social media post — the contact Trump cited to justify voter ID requirements
- India had nearly 980 million registered electors in the 2024 Lok Sabha election, which directly elects the lower house of Parliament rather than the president
- The post was later corrected, though Trump has not publicly acknowledged the India-Brazil confusion
Why it matters: Trump's SAVE America Act pitch relies on India as evidence that large democracies can run elections with strict voter ID and minimal mail voting. Citing an Indian presidential election that never happened — and misattributing Brazil's 125.27 million turnout to India — undermines the factual basis his administration has used since at least August 2026 to press for photo-ID and proof-of-citizenship requirements for U.S. voters.
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