In a characteristically sharp and witty exchange during an exclusive interview with India Today’s Consulting Editor Rajdeep Sardesai, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor was asked how he would approach dealing with former U.S. President Donald Trump. Without missing a beat, Tharoor offered a quip that drew both laughter and headlines: “You have to ask Melania Trump how she deals with the Donald.” He prefaced his remark by acknowledging Trump as a political figure unlike any other, suggesting that there is no conventional approach to managing his unpredictable style of leadership.
Tharoor did not stop at humor. He went on to draw a more serious comparison, describing Trump as a “schoolyard bully,” and criticized the Trump administration for unfairly targeting India in trade matters. As India prepared for critical talks with a U.S. negotiating team on August 25, Tharoor urged Indian leaders to approach discussions calmly but with firmness, particularly in defending sectors crucial to India’s national interests — most notably, agriculture. He stressed that India’s self-respect is non-negotiable, regardless of which party holds power in the country.
Citing India’s agricultural dependency, with over 700 million people reliant on the sector, Tharoor warned against compromising this vital area in exchange for short-term trade gains. He argued that India cannot accept the prospect of subsidized American agricultural products flooding Indian markets, which would devastate local farmers. However, he did concede that in less sensitive sectors, there may be room for compromise and cooperation.
Tharoor also addressed the issue of trade tariffs, making it clear that if India remained among a small group of countries still facing a 50% tariff by the end of the negotiation period, reciprocal measures would be justified. He emphasized that India must be prepared to defend its economic interests decisively if treated unfairly.
Further criticising what he viewed as American hypocrisy, Tharoor highlighted the U.S.’s ongoing trade relationship with Russia, despite public condemnation of nations dealing with Moscow. He pointed to substantial American imports of Russian fertilisers, uranium, palladium, and even aircraft parts — questioning how U.S. dollars used for such purchases could be deemed acceptable while accusing other countries, including India, of funding the Russian war machine.
In conclusion, Tharoor called for strategic clarity and resolve during the three-week negotiation period with the U.S. He stated that if the talks failed to result in fair and equitable treatment, India should be prepared to seek alternative markets rather than compromise its sovereignty or economic stability.
