A Battle Over Tariffs and Oil
The relationship between the United States and India recently faced turbulence after reports revealed that President Donald Trump attempted several times to reach Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but his calls went unanswered.
According to European and Asian media outlets, Trump tried four times to connect with Modi. These calls followed Washington’s decision to impose a steep 50 percent tariff on Indian imports. The measures included a 25 percent punitive tariff in response to India’s ongoing purchase of Russian oil, which Trump argued indirectly funds the war in Ukraine.
Sources suggested that Modi refused to take Trump’s calls, keeping his distance during the trade standoff. Reports highlighted Trump’s growing frustration as the missed calls became symbolic of the strained ties. The New York Times also confirmed that Trump’s calls were ignored, though White House spokesperson Anna Kelly publicly denied he had ever reached out.
Even while this was happening, the White House continued to emphasize that the two countries shared “a respectful relationship” and insisted that both leaders remained in communication. But behind the public statements, the disputes over tariffs and Russian oil painted a different picture.
Angry Posts and Harsh Words
President Donald Trump expressed his anger openly on September 1 through his social media platform, Truth Social. He wrote that India enjoyed massive trade benefits while American businesses suffered. According to Trump, India had imposed the highest tariffs of any country, making it difficult for American companies to enter the Indian market. He also voiced displeasure over India’s decision to buy most of its oil and defense equipment from Russia instead of the U.S.
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In one post, Trump labeled the trade situation as “a one-sided disaster.” He also pointed to global shifts, sharing a photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit. The image showed Modi and Putin holding hands, which Trump used to argue that India was aligning more closely with Russia and China.
When questioned by reporters about his remark on “losing India,” Trump softened his stance. He said that the United States and India had a “special relationship” and stressed that he personally got along well with Modi, citing their meeting at the White House Rose Garden a few months earlier.
Warming Up With Sweet Words
Just days after his criticism, Donald Trump struck a completely different tone. In a fresh Truth Social post, he described Narendra Modi as a “very good friend.” He announced that talks were underway to reduce trade barriers and expressed confidence that both nations would find common ground.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi responded warmly on X, calling the United States a “close friend and natural partner.” He said he was confident that trade negotiations would unlock “limitless potential” for the India-U.S. partnership. Modi added that he looked forward to speaking directly with Trump soon.
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Despite the friendly tone, Trump kept pressing his criticism of India’s Russian oil imports. He said he was “very disappointed” that India continued to buy large amounts of oil from Moscow. He even called on the European Union to impose tariffs of up to 100 percent on goods from India and China to pressure Russia. According to reports, the move was designed to push Moscow into ending its war in Ukraine.
The back-and-forth exchanges between Donald Trump and Narendra Modi—from unanswered phone calls and tariff fights to sudden praise and warm messages—highlighted how complex the relationship had become.
