U.S. President Donald J. Trump has sparked controversy after referring to India’s economy as “dead” in a post on his Truth Social platform, amid escalating trade tensions and concerns over India’s growing ties with Russia.
In the strongly worded statement, President Trump wrote:
“I don’t care what India does with Russia. They can take their dead economies down together, for all I care. We have done very little business with India — their Tariffs are too high, among the highest in the World. Likewise, Russia and the USA do almost no business together. Let’s keep it that way.”
The remarks come as India deepens its economic and defense cooperation with Moscow, a move that has drawn scrutiny from Washington. Trump’s comments appear to signal a hardening stance on trade with both countries, citing long-standing complaints over India’s high tariff barriers.
In an unexpected twist, Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi echoed Trump’s criticism, attributing the country’s economic challenges to what he called the “flawed and damaging policies” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“President Trump’s comment may be blunt, but it reflects a growing international concern. Under Modi, economic inequality has widened, institutions have weakened, and small businesses have suffered,” Gandhi said during a press interaction.
However, economic indicators paint a more complex picture. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), India remains one of the fastest-growing major economies in the world. The IMF projects India’s GDP to grow between 6.5% and 7% in both 2025 and 2026, driven by strong domestic consumption, digital innovation, and structural reforms.
Several economists and government officials in New Delhi have dismissed Trump’s remarks as politically motivated and lacking factual basis.
“India’s economy is far from dead — it is thriving,” said a senior official from the Ministry of Finance, who requested anonymity. “The fundamentals are strong, and global institutions like the IMF and World Bank continue to endorse our growth trajectory.”
Trade relations between the U.S. and India have faced persistent hurdles over tariffs, intellectual property rights, and market access, but both nations have also expanded defense and strategic ties in recent years.
With Trump now ramping up his rhetoric in the run-up to the U.S. presidential elections, the statement adds another layer of complexity to India-U.S. relations, especially as geopolitical alliances shift in response to global conflicts and economic realignments.
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