-
The remark has stirred political debate within India. Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge criticised Modi’s silence, calling the remarks an “insult” to the nation
-
He questioned why the issue had not been raised directly with Washington, emphasising the significant contributions of Indians to American society
A diplomatic row has emerged after Donald Trump reshared a social media post that described India in derogatory terms. The comment, which labelled the country a “hell-hole”, sparked sharp reactions from both India and Iran, prompting official responses and political criticism.
Iran’s consulate in Mumbai responded with a mocking tone, suggesting that Trump might benefit from a “cultural detox”. The remark, partly delivered in Hindi, urged him to visit India before making such statements. Meanwhile, India’s Ministry of External Affairs issued a formal protest. Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal called the comments “uninformed, inappropriate and in poor taste”, stressing that they do not reflect the reality of India–US relations, which are built on mutual respect and shared interests.
The controversy stems from Trump’s repost of a transcript attributed to radio host Michael Savage, which made unfavourable comparisons between India and China while discussing immigration
The backlash led to what appeared to be damage control from the US Embassy in New Delhi. Officials highlighted Trump’s earlier positive remarks about India, where he described it as a “great country” and referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a “good friend”.
Trump has often spoken warmly about Modi, including after a recent phone call during tensions linked to the Iran conflict.
