Jairam Ramesh Criticizes PM’s ‘Costly Friendship’ with Trump Amid Tariff Threats

By A Staff Reporter

New Delhi – In response to former U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent warning of substantially raising tariffs on India over its continued oil trade with Russia, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh launched a sharp political critique, questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s long-touted “special bond” with Trump.

“For years, the Prime Minister has been claiming that President Trump and he share a special bond. This friendship has turned out to be very expensive,” Ramesh said, addressing the media on Tuesday.

Highlighting a series of high-profile events such as Howdy Modi in Houston and Namaste Trump in Ahmedabad, Ramesh argued that these public displays of camaraderie have yielded little diplomatic value. “There were photo ops, hugs, and slogans like ‘Abki Baar Trump Sarkar’, but what is the result? Threats of increased tariffs,” he said.

Quoting a popular Hindi song, he added, “‘Dost dost na raha, Trump yaar hamein tera aitbaar na raha’,” suggesting that the supposed friendship has not translated into strategic trust.

Ramesh also pointed to Trump's repeated claims of mediating ceasefires, saying, “He said this 32-33 times, but the PM did not respond.” While the Ministry of External Affairs has now issued a statement, Ramesh asserted that it reflects a broader deterioration in ties.

“The reality today is that CAP—China, America, and Pakistan—have become a challenge for us,” he concluded, urging the Prime Minister to explain what concrete outcomes have resulted from his personal diplomacy.