‘Take Gyanesh Kumar to America, keep him there’: Pawan Khera’s response to Trump’s post

Senior Congress leader and Member of Lok Sabha Pawan Khera on Tuesday (August 18, 2026) sarcastically commented on a post by U.S. President Donald Trump, targeting Election Commission of India’s (ECI’s) authorities. He asked the U.S. President to take the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar and Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) to America.

“Please take Gyanesh Kumar Gupta to America. And keep him there. We will send our EVMs too by the next available flight,” he posted. “For all the insults and bullying you’ve sent our way, this is the least we can do for you.“

Mr. Khera posted on X after Mr. Trump, who, in a post on Truth Social, advocated for the passage of Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, citing CEC Gyanesh Kumar and highlighting India’s election system and voter photo ID requirements.

“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!” Mr. Trump had posted.

The SAVE Act would require Americans to show proof of citizenship to register to vote, impose a nationwide voter identification requirement and severely limit voting by mail.