Washington: US President Donald Trump’s senior trade adviser, Peter Navarro, found himself under scrutiny on social media after posting allegations against India regarding its imports of Russian oil. Navarro’s claims, which accused New Delhi of “profiteering” and indirectly fueling Russia’s war machine, were fact-checked on X (formerly Twitter), prompting a sharp reaction from the controversial aide.
In his post, Navarro wrote: “India highest tariffs costs US jobs. India buys Russian oil purely to profit/Revenues feed Russia war machine. Ukrainians/Russians die. U.S. taxpayers shell out more. India can't handle truth/spins.”
X issued a fact-check, calling Navarro’s claims “hypocritical.” The platform clarified that India’s Russian oil purchases are legal, aimed at ensuring energy security, and do not violate international sanctions. The note also highlighted that while the US criticizes India over oil imports, it continues to purchase substantial amounts of commodities from Russia, such as uranium, exposing what it described as a “double standard.”
Responding to the fact-check, Navarro lashed out at Elon Musk and the platform, labeling the note a “crap note” and accusing X of allowing “propaganda” to influence posts. He reiterated his position, claiming India imports Russian oil solely for profit and attacked the Indian government for spreading what he called “spin.”
Navarro has been a consistent critic of India, particularly after the Trump administration imposed secondary tariffs exceeding 50 percent on Indian exports, one of the highest under the new tariff list, alongside Brazil. In recent weeks, he has referred to India’s continued Russian oil trade as “Modi’s war,” accused New Delhi of running a “profiteering scheme,” and even made controversial caste-based remarks targeting Indian refiners.
India-US Relations Amid Tariff Tensions
The diplomatic rift over trade has coincided with India asserting a more visible presence on the international stage. During the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was seen engaging warmly with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, reflecting India’s independent foreign policy stance amid US tariffs.
Trump, however, sought to clarify his stance on India-US relations. While he expressed disappointment over New Delhi’s Russian oil purchases, he stressed that he maintains a personal rapport with PM Modi, calling the bilateral ties “very special” and affirming: “We will always be friends.”
PM Modi echoed these sentiments, stating that he “fully reciprocates” Trump’s assessment, and underscoring the forward-looking nature of India-US Comprehensive and Global Strategic Partnership.
The Navarro episode, with its social media flare and fact-checking rebuke, reflects the complex interplay of trade, diplomacy, and public messaging, highlighting how modern platforms like X are increasingly shaping international discourse.