India voices anger after Trump shares comments calling it a ‘hellhole’
Foreign ministry says remarks of conservative podcast host Michael Savage that were shared by US president were 'obviously uninformed, inappropriate and in poor taste'
India on Thursday criticised as inappropriate a post by Donald Trump in which he shared comments that called the South Asian country a "hellhole".
The inflammatory post on Truth Social comes ahead of a planned visit next month to India by the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, who is seeking to ease recent tensions between the normally friendly powers.
On Wednesday Trump posted a 4-page screed – apparently a transcription of remarks from conservative podcast host Michael Savage – that denounced the US constitutional right to citizenship of everyone born in the country.
Without evidence, the post accused Indian immigrants in the tech industry of not hiring white native-born Americans and inaccurately alleged that Indian immigrants lack English proficiency. Trump also posted a video of Savage delivering those comments to his podcast audience.
"A baby here becomes an instant citizen, and then they bring the entire family in from China or India or some other hellhole on the planet," the post said.
Indian foreign ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal responded that the remarks were "obviously uninformed, inappropriate and in poor taste".
"They certainly do not reflect the reality of the India-US relationship, which has long been based on mutual respect and shared interests."
Congressman Ami Bera, a Democrat whose parents are Indian immigrants, called the post by Trump "offensive, ignorant and beneath the dignity of the office he holds".
"President Trump, who was born into wealth and privilege, has never had to struggle the way so many immigrant families have," he said.
The Hindu American Foundation, an advocacy group, said it was disturbed by the "hateful, racist screed".
"Endorsing such rants as the president of the United States will further stoke hatred and endanger our communities, at a time when xenophobia and racism are already at an all-time high," it wrote on X.
Trump, who has made a sweeping crackdown on immigration a signature policy, has taken aim at visas commonly used by Indian tech workers.
He also for months maintained major tariffs on India after he was angry that prime minister Narendra Modi downplayed his mediation during a conflict between India and Pakistan, which has avidly courted Trump.
Trump's sparring with India stands in contrast to decades of efforts by successive US presidents to avoid friction and build relations with the world's largest democracy, which US policymakers have seen as a counterweight to rival China.
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