Indian-American billionaire and venture capitalist Vinod Khosla criticized Donald Trump’s alleged push for a Nobel Peace Prize, calling it an “ego-driven” move that would reduce the award to a “dirtbag medal.” His remarks followed reports that Prime Minister Narendra Modi rejected Trump’s request for India’s backing in securing the nomination.
Khosla’s reaction came through a post on X after Congressman Ro Khanna urged Indian Americans who had supported Trump over Kamala Harris during the US presidential election to voice their opposition to Trump’s tariffs on India, which Khanna said damaged bilateral ties.
Alongside his criticism, Khosla shared a New York Times report that revealed Trump had allegedly asked Modi to nominate him for the Nobel Prize, claiming credit for easing tensions during a brief military standoff between India and Pakistan. Modi, however, reportedly dismissed the idea, stating that the ceasefire was unrelated to any US mediation.
In his post, Khosla challenged Indian Americans who had voted for Trump to speak up against his actions, particularly the imposition of sweeping tariffs harsher than those placed on China, which he argued undermined the US–India partnership.
Relations between India and the US have been strained in recent months due to trade and diplomatic disputes. New Delhi strongly rejected Trump’s assertion that he played a role in de-escalating the India–Pakistan conflict, reiterating its long-standing stance against third-party mediation.
The tension deepened after the Trump administration imposed steep 50 percent tariffs on Indian exports, which India labeled “unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable.” This prompted Prime Minister Modi to skip a planned White House visit, and reports indicate that the two leaders have not spoken since June 17.
According to the New York Times, Trump also canceled plans to attend the Quad summit in India later this year, further highlighting the strain in bilateral relations.
