Washington: A pointed exchange in the Oval Office has reignited debate over U.S. foreign policy as President Donald Trump snapped at a Polish reporter questioning his lack of direct action against Russia. The President, visibly irritated, turned the focus instead to India, underscoring his administration’s recent decision to impose steep tariffs linked to New Delhi’s purchase of Russian oil.
During a bilateral meeting with Polish President Karol Nawrocki, Trump was asked why, despite publicly expressing frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin, he had not taken concrete steps against Moscow. Trump shot back, “How do you know there’s no action? Would you say that putting secondary sanctions on India, the largest purchaser outside of China, they’re almost equal, would you say there was no action? That cost hundreds of billions of dollars to Russia. You call that no action? And I haven’t done phase two yet or phase three. But when you say there’s no action, I think you ought to get yourself a new job.”
The comment reflects both Trump’s defensive posture on the Russia question and his insistence that penalising India, one of Moscow’s biggest oil customers, amounts to a direct blow to the Kremlin.
Last week, Washington announced sweeping trade restrictions on India, slapping a 25% reciprocal tariff across various sectors and an additional 25% levy on crude imports sourced from Russia. Together, these raise the total duty burden on Indian goods to 50% with effect from August 27.
According to Trump, the move was designed to send a dual message punishing India for defying Western sanctions while simultaneously reducing the financial pipeline sustaining Moscow’s war chest. “Two weeks ago, I said, if India buys, India’s got big problems, and that’s what happens,” he declared.
The President was further pressed about whether he intends to take direct measures against Moscow, particularly after Putin appeared alongside North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Chinese President Xi Jinping at Beijing’s recent military parade. Trump replied evasively, saying, “Well, I’ve already done that with regard to India, and we’re doing it with regard to other things,” without elaborating on additional steps.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has rejected Washington’s tariff escalation, warning that India cannot compromise on the livelihoods of farmers, small industries, and rural communities dependent on affordable energy. “Pressure on us may increase, but we will bear it,” Modi said, describing India’s stand as a matter of sovereignty and resilience.
New Delhi formally labelled the U.S. measures as “unjustified and unreasonable,” asserting that as a major economy it reserves the right to take “all necessary steps” to safeguard national interests and economic security.
The latest U.S.-India standoff comes at a delicate moment in global geopolitics. India remains one of the few large buyers of Russian crude outside China, a lifeline that has cushioned Moscow from Western sanctions since the Ukraine war began. Trump’s administration appears intent on choking that channel, even if it risks alienating a critical Indo-Pacific partner.
At the same time, critics argue that targeting India sidesteps the core question whether Washington is prepared to confront Moscow directly. Trump’s retort, framed through punitive action against a third country, may not silence doubts over his willingness to put real pressure on the Kremlin.