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US President Donald Trump (Img: Pinterest)
Washington: US President Donald Trump has once again cited India’s electoral system while pushing for the passage of the SAVE America Act, a proposed law that would introduce stricter voter identification and citizenship verification rules in American elections.
Trump said India’s recent general election, which saw hundreds of millions of voters participate, used a system where voters were required to show valid photo identification.
Sharing his views on social media, Trump questioned how elections in the United States can be conducted without mandatory photo ID requirements and urged Congress to approve the legislation.
The SAVE America Act aims to make proof of citizenship mandatory for voter registration in federal elections and require voters to present government-issued photo identification before casting their ballots.
Breaking: US President Trump says India’s Chief Election Commissioner schooled America on holding elections
“How can you have elections in the U.S. without a valid photo ID?” Kumar asked the Trump administration pic.twitter.com/HeLF3VtwWT
— Shashank Mattoo (@MattooShashank) August 17, 2026
Supporters of the bill argue that it would strengthen election security and prevent illegal voting. The White House has described the legislation as a measure to ensure that only American citizens participate in federal elections.
The bill has already passed the House of Representatives but faces hurdles in the Senate, where it requires broader support to move forward.
Trump referred to India’s large-scale election exercise as an example of a system with strict voter identification measures.
He claimed that India recorded hundreds of millions of voters in its last election, with only a small percentage using postal ballots, while voters were required to carry valid identification documents.
US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor also backed Trump’s remarks, praising India’s election management system and supporting the proposed legislation.
The voter ID issue remains politically divisive in the United States. Supporters believe stricter identification rules can improve election confidence, while critics argue that additional documentation requirements may create barriers for eligible voters.
Opponents of the bill have pointed out that millions of Americans may not have easily available citizenship documents or government-issued identification.
Although voter ID laws enjoy support among many Americans, the SAVE America Act faces challenges in Congress. Republicans hold a narrow majority in the Senate, but the legislation would need additional votes to overcome procedural hurdles.
For now, Trump’s push has renewed debate over election security, voter identification and how US election rules compare with other democracies
