On 18th August (Tuesday), United States President Donald Trump praised India’s comprehensive electoral system and highlighted Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s statement about the absence of voter identification in American polls. He had taken to social media to endorse his proposed “SAVE America Act” as a viable solution to this issue.
“Earlier this month, India’s Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar, asked our Administration — How can you have Elections in the U.S. without a valid Photo ID? India’s last Election had 646,000,000 Voters! Less than 1% voted by mail, and every single Voter had to have a VALID Photo Identity Document. We need to pass THE SAVE AMERICA ACT, now,” he wrote on Truth Social.
The sentiment was also echoed by US ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, who said, “President Donald J. Trump is absolutely correct. 646 MILLION voters, every single one required an ID in India’s last election. Congress should pass THE SAVE AMERICA ACT.” He further posted a picture alongside Gyanesh Kumar and a screenshot of Trump’s statement to reinforce the argument.
President Donald J. Trump is absolutely correct! 646 MILLION voters, every single one required an ID in India’s last election. Congress should pass THE SAVE AMERICA ACT! pic.twitter.com/lqQHSZvWk7
— Ambassador Sergio Gor (@USAmbIndia) August 18, 2026
Trump wants to boost support for the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, or SAVE America Act, which would impose a national voter identification requirement and mandate that people present evidence of citizenship to register to vote. Notably, the act was passed in the House of Representatives but failed to gain support in the Senate.
“American citizens — and only American citizens — should decide American elections. The Save America Act is a common sense, bipartisan bill that would simply require,” read the official website of White House. The act has three main provisions, including a valid ID before registering to vote in a federal election, proof of citizenship and restricting mail-in ballots to special circumstances such as illness, disability, military service, or travel.
The website even cites India’s voter system, which is strengthened by biometrics and photos, as an illustration of voting security. “India and Brazil tie voter I.D. to a biometric database, while the United States largely relies on self-attestation for citizenship,” it outlines. Additionally, any election official who registers an application without documentary proof of citizenship faces criminal consequences. The same is going to apply even if a person is an American citizen.
India’s electoral framework draws global interest, but Opposition continues to cast aspersions
It is pertinent to highlight how the Indian National Congress-led Opposition has continued to pursue a concerted campaign against the country’s electoral system for petty political gains, even as the rest of the world draws inspiration from the vibrancy and robustness of the Indian electoral process.
Rahul Gandhi has remained at the forefront of this political battle, making a series of outrageous allegations, from claims of vote theft and rigging of EVM machines and VVPAT tampering to false accusations of voters being arbitrarily disenfranchised based on religious identity or ideological leanings through the SIR drive.
Yet, he has neither furnished any evidence to substantiate his allegations nor agreed to apologise after failing to submit an affidavit supporting his allegations when challenged by the Election Commission. The parties have honed the skill of shoot and scoot, channelling their frustration regarding the public’s distrust in the Election Commission and the BJP.
Furthermore, it is not just Trump who has lauded India. Several other countries have also demonstrated a desire to witness and learn how to carry out such an extensive exercise with efficiency and precision.
