Trump Says, “Washington Lost India”, Meanwhile Former Top US Officials Express Concern Over Trump’s Unstable Policies
Trump’s inconsistent remarks on India spark criticism as former US officials warn his policies risk damaging years of bipartisan diplomatic progress.
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US President Donald Trump has once again sparked debate on the trajectory of India-US relations through his contradictory statements, drawing attention to the evolving dynamics between the two nations.
On Friday (5 September), US President Donald Trump reignited debate over India-US relations with a series of seemingly contradictory remarks. In a post on Truth Social, Trump suggested that Washington had “lost” India and Russia to China. However, he later clarified that he remained committed to what he described as a “very special relationship” with New Delhi.
Addressing reporters, the President expressed his “disappointment” with India’s continued imports of Russian oil, adding that his administration had imposed a steep 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods in response.
When questioned about his earlier post, Trump remarked, “I don’t think we have lost India. I’ve been very disappointed that India would be buying so much oil from Russia, and I let them know that. We put a very big tariff on India, 50 per cent, a very high tariff.”
Yet, in the same exchange, Trump struck a conciliatory tone, underlining his personal rapport with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “I get along very well with Modi. He’s great. He was here a couple of months ago,” he said, as reported by India Today. The President further stressed that while policy disagreements exist, they would not overshadow his friendship with the Indian leader.
What Do Former Officials Say About Trump?
The former US National Security Adviser (NSA), John Bolton, said that the once-strong personal relationship between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Trump has now faded. Bolton opined that Trump’s mistreatment of India has undermined years of bipartisan US efforts to deepen cooperation between New Delhi and Washington against China. He argued that Trump has pushed PM Modi closer to Russia and China.
“Trump had a very good relationship personally with Modi. I think that’s gone now. It’s a lesson to everybody, and a good personal relationship may help at times, but it won’t protect you from the worst. The White House has set US-India relations back decades, pushing Modi closer to Russia and China. Beijing has cast itself as an alternative to the US and Donald Trump,” Bolton said, adding that Trump’s tariff imposition on India for its Russian oil imports amounts to an “unforced error”.
Meanwhile, former National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and ex-Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell have criticised the Trump administration for hyphenating India and Pakistan. In a joint op-ed published in Foreign Affairs magazine on 4 September 2025, Sullivan and Campbell contended that India’s status as the world’s largest democracy, its technological dynamism, and its desire for a free and open Indo-Pacific “has led to a strategic alignment with the United States that has effectively disincentivised reckless Chinese adventurism.”
The criticism by Sullivan and Campbell highlights deep concerns within US policy circles over President Trump’s erratic approach toward India. His imposition of steep tariffs, coupled with the abrasive rhetoric of his aides, has strained ties at a time when India is carefully balancing relations with both the US and Russia.
Moreover, the visible warmth between Prime Minister Modi and President Xi Jinping at the SCO summit has heightened anxieties in Washington, especially among those who view India as a pivotal partner in countering China. Ultimately, India’s steadfast pursuit of strategic autonomy remains central to its foreign policy, even as it navigates the shifting dynamics of global power.
Article by
Kewali Kabir Jain
Journalism Student at Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University of Journalism and Communication