Trump’s olive branches and Navarro’s rants: How India has been dealing with a confused, dual-faced US leadership amid trade talks and tariff chaos

On 9th September, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and United States President Donald Trump exchanged messages that, at least on the surface, looked like a renewal of old camaraderie. PM Modi described India and the US as “close friends and natural partners” and stressed that trade talks could unlock “limitless potential” in the partnership. His message came in response to Trump’s post on Truth Social where he said he was “pleased” about negotiations to resolve trade barriers and called PM Modi his “very good friend”. He also predicted that there would be “no difficulty” in reaching a successful conclusion. India and the US are close friends and natural partners. I am confident that our trade negotiations will pave the way for unlocking the limitless potential of the India-US partnership. Our teams are working to conclude these discussions at the earliest. I am also looking forward… pic.twitter.com/3K9hlJxWcl— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 10, 2025 This rosy language from the US President came even as Washington has doubled tariffs on Indian goods, with threats of more to come. Interestingly, while posting messages in an attempt to woo New Delhi, Trump reportedly urged the European Union to follow suit and slap tariffs of up to 100% on imports from India and China, claiming that it would weaken Russia. So, while Trump speaks the language of friendship, the policies his camp advances look very different. Navarro’s tantrums on social media Trump’s trade aide Peter Navarro, who has turned his social media feed into an extended rant against India, recently labelled India the “Maharaja of tariffs”. He accused India of fuelling Russia’s war chest by buying discounted oil and mocked Indian students for “flooding” American schools. He even claimed that Indian users were hijacking X’s Community Notes feature to bury facts, a conspiracy theory he floated without any basis. India’s keyboard minions are hijacking X’s Community Notes to bury the facts.They’re furious about losing unfettered access to U.S. markets—even as India, the Maharaja of Tariffs, keeps some of the world’s highest trade barriers. pic.twitter.com/d72WoebqIa— Peter Navarro (@RealPNavarro) September 9, 2025 Navarro’s attacks are not just about economics. They drip with the kind of rhetoric that has been seen exported from sections of the Indian opposition. Navarro even dabbled in caste politics, parroting tropes about Brahmins profiteering, rhetoric that has little to do with trade policy but plenty to do with resentment. In short, while Trump is offering olive branches, Navarro is busy lashing out at India in ways that sound more like propaganda than policy. India refuses to bend on core issues What explains the anger? The answer lies in New Delhi’s refusal to compromise where it matters most. India has made it clear that its energy security cannot be dictated by Washington’s sanctions regime. Imports of Russian crude have jumped since 2021, reaching over $67 billion in 2024, with about $53 billion of that being oil. Navarro cites this as evidence of profiteering. However, India has consistently argued that Western nations themselves continue to trade with Russia and it cannot be expected to jeopardise its development trajectory because of someone else’s war. The same principle applies to tariffs. India has always maintained that trade must be balanced, not one-sided. Agricultural imports, dairy, and digital services taxes are not bargaining chips to be surrendered under American pressure. New Delhi has insisted on protecting domestic industries, which has been portrayed by Washington as protectionism. India, on the other hand, sees it as common sense. But common sense is not so common, which is visible in the frustration Washington has shown towards India in the past few months. The double-speak of American leadership The contrast could not be clearer. Trump’s conciliatory posts emphasise friendship and a brighter future, yet his administration’s actions while Navarro continues with his inflammatory rhetoric tell a story of threats, coercion, and disdain. It is evident that the US wants India to reduce duties and open its markets wider, but at the same time pushes for punitive tariffs of its own. It wants India to cut Russian oil imports, yet its European allies continue buying Russian energy quietly. It complains about a trade deficit, but conveniently ignores the billions earned from Indian students and tourists in America each year. It wants India to leave BRICS claiming it is anti-America but India has bluntly rejected it. This cannot be seen as diplomacy but as double-speak. On one hand, Trump wants to appear the statesman capable of resolving trade disputes amicably. On the other hand, his aides and his policy announcements keep the stick raised, hoping India will blink first, which has not happened despite immense pressure from the Trump administration. India’s counter-strategy The US has f