Amid current tensions between Washington and Delhi over tariffs and purchase of Russian oil, U.S. President Donald Trump said India and the United States have a “special relationship” and there's nothing to worry about as the two countries "just have moments on occasion”.
“I'll always be friends with (Narendra) Modi… He’s a great Prime Minister. He's great. But I just don't like what he's doing at this particular moment. But India and the United States have a special relationship. There's nothing to worry about. We just have moments on occasion,” Mr. Trump said in the Oval Office on Friday (September 5, 2025).
The president was responding to a question on whether he is ready to reset relations with India, as ties between the two countries continue to reel under possibly the worst phase in over two decades.
Mr. Trump also said he is “very disappointed" that India would be buying “so much oil” from Russia.
“I've been very disappointed that India would be buying so much oil from Russia, and I let them know that. We put a very big tariff on India, 50% tariff, a very high tariff. I get along very well with (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi, he's great. He was here a couple of months ago,” Mr. Trump said in response to a question on his social media post that the U.S. has lost India and Russia to China.
In the Truth Social post, Mr. Trump said that “Looks like we’ve lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest, China. May they have a long and prosperous future together!”
Mr. Trump had also posted an old photo of Modi with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
