India stated that it had taken note of reports regarding Donald Trump amplifying a social media post that described India and China as “hellholes,” but initially avoided directly criticising the American leader, offering a measured and cautious response.
On Thursday, the Indian government reacted in a restrained manner when asked about the controversy. Responding to media queries, Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, briefly said that the government had seen the reports and chose not to comment further at that moment, reflecting a calibrated diplomatic approach.
Soon after the remarks gained attention, a spokesperson from the US Embassy attempted to mitigate the situation by highlighting that Trump had previously described India as a great country and referred positively to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, indicating friendly ties between the two nations.
However, later in the day, India issued a stronger and more direct response through an official statement. The Ministry of External Affairs criticised the remarks associated with the post, calling them uninformed, inappropriate, and in poor taste, and clarified that such statements do not reflect the true nature of the bilateral relationship between India and the United States, which is based on mutual respect and cooperation.
The controversy originated when Trump reposted content on his platform, Truth Social, from conservative radio host Michael Savage. In the reposted content, Savage made sweeping and derogatory remarks about several countries, including India and China, while criticising the concept of birthright citizenship in the United States.
During an episode of his Savage Nation podcast, Savage argued against the Citizenship Clause of the US Constitution, which grants citizenship to most children born on American soil, including those born to undocumented immigrants or temporary residents. He claimed that this policy is exploited by immigrants from countries such as India and China.
In the remarks shared by Trump, Savage suggested that a child born in the US becomes an “instant citizen” and later facilitates the migration of extended family members from countries like India and China. The statement included offensive language, referring to such countries in a derogatory manner.
Trump reposted both a transcript and a video clip from the podcast, in which Savage also criticised the role of the US Supreme Court in shaping laws related to birthright citizenship and argued that the issue should instead be decided through a national referendum. The accompanying content further escalated the controversy by making disparaging claims about immigrants from India and China.
The issue is also linked to Trump’s ongoing legal and political efforts to restrict birthright citizenship. His administration has been challenging court rulings that blocked an executive order aimed at limiting automatic citizenship for certain children born in the United States. The order, signed shortly after his return to office in January 2025, specifically targeted children born to parents residing in the country illegally or on temporary visas. Multiple courts have blocked its implementation, with at least one judge describing it as unconstitutional.
Amid the controversy, Iran publicly responded by defending India and China, referring to both nations as “cradles of civilisation.” In a statement shared on social media by the Iranian Embassy in Hyderabad, the remarks criticised the language used in the original post and contrasted it with the historical and cultural significance of the two countries.
The situation unfolded against the backdrop of ongoing geopolitical tensions involving Iran, including a fragile ceasefire that had recently been extended by Trump. Although hostilities had somewhat eased, the continued presence of a US naval blockade around the Strait of Hormuz has added to regional uncertainty, with Tehran arguing that such actions undermine the spirit of the ceasefire and contribute to instability.
