India strongly criticised US President Donald Trump for sharing and amplifying a social media post that described India as a “hellhole on the planet.” The Indian government termed the remarks ill-informed, inappropriate, and in extremely poor taste, adding that such statements fail to represent the true depth and strength of the long-standing bilateral relationship between the two nations.
On Thursday, India reacted sharply to Trump’s endorsement of the controversial post, reiterating that the language used was not only offensive but also disconnected from the reality of India-US ties. Officials emphasized that the relationship between the two countries has historically been built on mutual respect, shared democratic values, and aligned strategic interests, none of which are reflected in such comments.
Responding to questions from the media, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that New Delhi had carefully noted both the original social media remarks and the clarification later issued by the US Embassy. He explained that the government found the comments clearly inappropriate and lacking factual understanding, and stressed that they do not align with the actual nature of the partnership between India and the United States. Jaiswal further added that the bilateral relationship continues to remain strong and grounded in cooperation across multiple sectors.
At the same time, political reactions also emerged within the United States, where members of the Democratic Party openly criticised Donald Trump. They argued that at a time when the US is engaged in a sensitive geopolitical situation involving Iran and when American lives are potentially at risk, the president should not be promoting content that they described as racially offensive and divisive on social media platforms.
During an episode of his podcast Savage Nation, Savage argued against the Citizenship Clause of the US Constitution, which grants citizenship to most children born on American soil regardless of their parents’ immigration status. He claimed that this policy is being exploited by immigrants from countries such as India and China. According to him, children born in the US automatically become citizens and later facilitate the immigration of extended family members.
In the portion of the remarks that Trump shared, Savage alleged that a child born in the United States becomes an “instant citizen” and subsequently enables relatives from countries like India and China to enter the country. The statement included offensive language suggesting that such immigration patterns were problematic and harmful.
Trump reposted both a written transcript and a video clip of Savage’s podcast, in which Savage also criticised the role of the US Supreme Court in interpreting and shaping laws related to birthright citizenship. He further argued that the issue should be resolved through a nationwide referendum rather than judicial decisions.
The controversy intensified because the accompanying message went even further, using highly derogatory descriptions of immigrants from India and China, portraying them in an offensive and generalized manner.
Earlier in the day, India had initially expressed its concern in a restrained manner without directly naming Trump. When asked about the issue, Randhir Jaiswal briefly stated that the government had seen the reports and chose not to elaborate further at that stage. However, as the situation developed, a more direct and stronger response followed.
In an attempt to manage the fallout, the US Embassy later issued a clarification highlighting the importance of US-India relations. The embassy spokesperson reiterated that President Trump has previously described India as a great country and referred to its leadership in positive terms, emphasizing the friendly ties between the two nations.
The timing of Trump’s amplification of Savage’s remarks is also significant, as it coincides with his ongoing legal and political battle over birthright citizenship. His administration has been challenging court rulings that blocked an executive order aimed at restricting automatic citizenship for certain categories of children born in the US.
This executive order, signed shortly after Trump returned to office in January 2025, specifically targeted children born to parents who are either residing illegally in the United States or are there on temporary visas. The move triggered multiple legal challenges across the country, with several courts halting its implementation. At least one judge reportedly declared the order unconstitutional, further intensifying the debate around immigration and citizenship laws.
He publicly asked whether the Prime Minister would address what he called an act of “intimidation” and “indignation,” and questioned why the issue was not being raised more forcefully at the highest diplomatic levels with the United States government.
Kharge also referred to the previously publicized camaraderie between Modi and Trump, pointing out that despite their perceived closeness, no direct response had been made by the Prime Minister regarding the controversial remarks. He further questioned what factors might be preventing India from taking a stronger diplomatic stance and emphasized the significant contributions made by Indians to the growth and success of the United States.
