Donald Trump’s close trade advisor Peter Navarro has once again sparked controversy with his sharp remarks on India. Navarro accused Indian Brahmins of profiteering from Russian oil, claiming that while they benefit, the entire country is paying the price.
Navarro alleged that India’s purchase of cheap Russian crude is indirectly financing Moscow’s war against Ukraine. “India is giving Russia money to attack Ukraine, and because of this, Indians are facing the highest tariffs. Russia and America are not suffering, but common Indians are,” he said.
He went further, describing India as “Russia’s washing machine”, alleging that New Delhi not only increases trade imbalance but also strengthens anti-American alliances.
Opposition Slams Navarro’s Remarks
The remarks immediately triggered sharp reactions in India.
Congress leader Pawan Khera called the statement baseless, urging the U.S. to avoid such “ill-informed comments.”
TMC MP Sagarika Ghosh clarified that the word “Brahmin” is often used in Western discourse to refer to the wealthy elite, not caste. She termed Navarro’s comments “misleading and ignorant.”
Economist Sanjeev Sanyal, a member of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council, criticized Navarro’s remarks as a reflection of colonial-era prejudice in U.S. intellectual circles.
Navarro’s Previous Remarks: Called Ukraine War ‘Modi War’
This is not the first time Navarro has taken a dig at India. Earlier, in an interview with Bloomberg TV, he branded the Russia-Ukraine conflict as “Modi’s war”, accusing India of refining and reselling Russian oil at higher prices—providing Moscow with crucial war funds.
“India, you are meeting dictators. China has taken Aksai Chin and your territories, and Russia is not your friend either,” Navarro had warned, suggesting India’s alignment with Moscow and Beijing could destabilize global peace.
He even hinted at U.S. trade relief, claiming, “If India stops buying oil from Russia today, America will lift its 25% tariff tomorrow.”
Who is Peter Navarro?
Navarro is regarded as one of Trump’s closest advisors and was the architect of his trade policies during the previous presidency.
He served as an economic strategist in the Trump administration since 2016 and is considered a hardliner on trade and globalization.
Initially a supporter of open trade, Navarro later shifted his stance, becoming one of the staunchest critics of globalization, arguing that America’s decline began with China’s entry into the WTO.
He frequently invokes America’s industrial past and insists that Trump is the only leader who can restore U.S. economic power.
