In a sharp rebuke, a senior official from former U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration has accused India of undermining American interests by continuing to purchase Russian oil, imposing steep tariffs on U.S. goods, and allegedly exploiting the U.S. immigration system.
Stephen Miller, former White House deputy chief of staff and a key Trump adviser, made the remarks during an appearance on Fox News' Sunday Morning Futures. Miller criticized India for its ongoing trade relationship with Russia, claiming that Indian oil imports are helping finance Moscow’s war in Ukraine.
“What President Trump has made clear is that it's unacceptable for India to keep financing this war by buying oil from Russia,” Miller said. “People will be shocked to know that India is essentially tied with China as the top buyer of Russian oil. That’s an astonishing fact.”
Miller’s comments mark one of the Trump camp’s strongest criticisms yet of India, a key U.S. ally in the Indo-Pacific region. His remarks also come as Washington continues to increase diplomatic pressure on New Delhi to reduce economic ties with Moscow amid the Ukraine conflict.
Despite the critique, Miller acknowledged the past rapport between Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying, “President Trump wants and has always had a tremendous relationship with India and Prime Minister Modi.”
However, he emphasized that tough decisions are necessary to end the war in Ukraine. “We need to be realistic about the role global financing plays in prolonging the conflict. President Trump is considering all diplomatic, financial, and other options to bring peace,” he added.
The remarks reflect growing tensions over India’s foreign policy stance, even as U.S.-India ties have generally deepened in areas like defense, technology, and regional security.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)