The government of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has issued a calibrated response to a post by US President Donald Trump that called the South Asian country a "hellhole", but Indian opposition Congress called the statement "extremely insulting" and accused Modi of choosing silence "in front of Trump."
President Trump, late on Wednesday, posted on social media a screed apparently written by someone else denouncing the US constitutional right to citizenship for everyone born in the country.
The post accused Indian immigrants in the tech industry of not hiring white native-born Americans and states that Indian immigrants lack English proficiency.
"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. You don't have to go too far to see that. English is not spoken here anymore," the post said.
"That there's almost no loyalty to this country amongst the immigrant class coming in today, which was not always the case," it added.
Trump’s post cited systemic bias in employment and immigration systems: "You have to be from India or China because almost all the internal mechanisms are set up to run by Indians and Chinese."
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 who is the children of 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, a far-right Hindu group that backed Trump’s presidency, 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.
Indian opposition Congress called Trump’s statement "extremely insulting and anti-India" and demanded a firm response from Modi.
"However, given his (Modi) track record so far, it cannot be expected that he will say anything in front of Trump," the party added.
Modi's 'friendship' with Trump under opposition radar
Another opposition leader Mahua Moitra mocked Modi government, asking sarcastically whether PM Modi would actually protest or just laugh it off given his close personal rapport with Trump.
Hours after Trump’s post drew Indian outrage, the US Embassy in New Delhi issued a statement saying: "The President has said, 'India is a great country with a very good friend of mine at the top'".
Modi has repeatedly touted his personal rapport with Trump in speeches, joint events, social media posts, and official statements — often calling Trump a "friend," "true friend," or "dear friend" of both himself and India.
This remained consistent throughout Trump's first term (2017–2021) and into his second term (starting 2025), even with trade tensions.
The comments come ahead of a planned visit next month to India by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who would seek to turn the page on recent tensions between the normally friendly countries.
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 maintained major tariffs on India for months after he was angry that Modi downplayed his mediation during a conflict between India and Pakistan.
Trump's sparring with India stands in contrast to decades of efforts by successive US presidents to avoid friction and build relations with India, which some US policymakers have seen as a counterweight to rival China.
