Donald Trump's aide Peter Navarro attacked India by posting an image of PM Narendra Modi, using a meditative image the Indian leader in saffron robes. Then came his thread on X that confirmed that he is nothing but Trump's attack dog. Navarro shoo!

Peter Navarro, President Trump's senior counsellor on trade, has given it away that the record-high tariffs against India are not just over Russian oil or trade. With his language and images in particular, Navarro has revealed that Trump and his cronies are making it personal against PM Modi. The attack is directed at India's civilizational roots, reported India Today.

The recent battle between the United States under former President Donald Trump’s administration and India, particularly exemplified by Trump’s aide Peter Navarro’s attacks, is deeply personal and multi-faceted beyond mere trade disputes. Navarro’s social media posts harshly criticised India, accusing it of turning into an "oil money laundromat" for Russia by importing discounted Russian crude and indirectly funding the war in Ukraine.

This denunciation culminated in Navarro sharing a provocative image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi meditating in saffron robes, symbolically targeting India's civilizational and spiritual roots, which many viewed as racially tinged and offensive.

This personal dimension of the conflict emerges prominently in a report by American investment bank Jefferies, which posits that the 50% tariffs imposed by the Trump administration on Indian goods are not primarily about economics but are driven by Trump’s “personal pique.”

This displeasure stemmed from India’s refusal to allow Trump to mediate in the longstanding and sensitive India-Pakistan conflict following a brief military confrontation in May 2025.

Trump's repeated, unfounded claims of brokering a ceasefire—claims India rejected—were tied to his ambitions for a Nobel Peace Prize, which the denial of mediation thwarted. Consequently, the tariffs appear as punitive measures rooted in political ego rather than strictly trade considerations.

Navarro’s rhetoric further painted India as a "strategic freeloader" for reportedly seeking American technology transfers while continuing arms purchases from Russia, a relationship historically necessitated by sanctions and lack of reliable Western alternatives.

His criticism extended to accusing Indian refiners of profiting illicitly from Russian oil purchases, profits allegedly feeding Putin’s “war chest.” Navarro’s pointed use of Modi’s meditative image in saffron robes—with religious significance and national pride—was a deliberate attempt to stereotype and caricature India, intensifying tensions and drawing significant backlash for its perceived racial and cultural insensitivity.

In essence, the Trump administration’s tariff impositions and Navarro's attacks reflect a complex interplay of personal political grudges, unfulfilled diplomatic ambitions, and economic disputes, underscored by a deep undercurrent of cultural and civilizational misunderstandings.

India, firm on its sovereign policies and civilizational pride, has responded with dignified silence, mirroring Modi’s composed demeanour and focusing on resilience against such provocations. The situation highlights the fragility of US-India relations amid personal vendettas and geopolitical manoeuvring, with broader implications for global diplomacy and trade.

This synthesis is based on information from multiple contemporary sources highlighting the socio-political context, trade analyses, and public reactions to Navarro’s posts and Trump’s tariff policies against India.

Navarro has revealed that the tariffs on India are more than just oil and trade, and that Trump and his cronies have made it personal. India has not just deep civilizational roots but internal strength to tide over all challenges. Someone in DC or Mar-a-Lago needs to remind Trump of the time when Buddha Smiled Again, the India Today finally added.

Based On India Today Report