In a fiery new message, U.S. President Donald Trump lashed out at India for its ongoing partnership with Russia, claiming he has no interest in how the two nations collaborate. He labeled both economies as “dead” and dismissed their global significance.
Posting on Truth Social, Trump remarked, “What India does with Russia is none of my concern. If they want to drag their lifeless economies down together, that’s on them.” He further criticized India’s trade policies, calling its tariffs some of the steepest in the world, and noted that U.S.-India commerce has remained limited as a result.
Trump didn’t hold back on Russia either. He said economic relations between Moscow and Washington are practically nonexistent—and should stay that way. He went on to take a personal shot at former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, warning him to stay in check: “Tell Medvedev—the ex-president who acts like he’s still in charge—to tone it down. He’s treading into dangerous waters.”
These comments followed Trump’s decision to impose a 25% tariff on imports from India, citing its military and trade ties with Russia. He also announced additional, unspecified penalties.
What Sparked the New Rant?
Trump’s renewed hostility toward Russia appears to have been provoked by a recent post from Medvedev on X (formerly Twitter), where the Russian leader accused Trump of escalating tensions with his “ultimatum-style diplomacy,” warning it could push the U.S. into a broader conflict.
Medvedev wrote, “Every ultimatum is a step toward war—not with Ukraine, but with America itself.”
Trump, in response, criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin for not doing more to end the Ukraine war and shortened his proposed peace deal deadline from 50 days to just 10-12.
Indian stock markets reacted negatively to Trump’s tariff threat. On Thursday, the Nifty 50 dropped by 0.61% to 24,703.1 points, while the BSE Sensex slid 0.64% to 80,963.14. All major sectors posted losses, with mid- and small-cap stocks dipping 0.9% and 0.6%, respectively.
The 25% tariff figure would disproportionately impact India compared to other U.S. trade partners and could jeopardize recent diplomatic progress between the two countries.
Despite the strong rhetoric, Trump later clarified that trade talks with India are still ongoing.
