Peter Navarro Defends Trump’s India Tariffs, Sparks Row With Caste-Based Remark on Brahmins

White House Trade Adviser accuses India of being a “laundromat for the Kremlin,” questions PM Modi’s ties with Russia and China, and alleges Brahmin profiteering amid tariff tensions.

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Washington DC [US], September 1: In a fiery interview on Fox News, White House Trade Adviser Peter Navarro once again defended US President Donald Trump’s controversial move to impose a 50 per cent tariff on Indian imports, but this time his remarks have triggered a fresh controversy. Navarro went beyond trade disputes, making a caste-based reference to Brahmins, accusing them of “profiteering at the expense of the Indian people.”

Navarro painted India as “nothing but a laundromat for the Kremlin”, alleging that New Delhi’s energy and trade ties with Moscow undermine global sanctions and hurt American workers.

“India is the Maharaja of tariffs. They have some of the highest in the world. They won’t let us sell to them, so who suffers? American workers and taxpayers. Meanwhile, Ukrainians are being killed by Russian drones,” Navarro asserted.

Despite calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi a “great leader”, Navarro questioned India’s growing alignment with Russia and China.

“I don’t understand why Modi, as the leader of the world’s largest democracy, is getting into bed with Putin and Xi Jinping. The Indian people need to realise what’s happening — Brahmins are profiteering while ordinary citizens pay the price,” he said.

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Context of Modi-Xi Meeting

Navarro’s comments came just a day after PM Modi met Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the SCO leaders’ summit in Tianjin. The meeting was described by India’s Ministry of External Affairs as “positive,” noting progress in restoring bilateral ties since their last encounter at the BRICS Summit in Kazan (2024).

Both leaders reportedly discussed how India and China’s economies play a critical role in stabilising global trade, even as tensions with the US over tariffs continue to escalate.

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Not Navarro’s First Attack

This is not the first time Navarro has used sharp rhetoric against India. Just last week, he accused Indian refiners of turning the country into a hub for laundering Russian oil money.

“India’s Big Oil lobby has converted the world’s largest democracy into a massive refining hub for the Kremlin. They buy cheap Russian oil, process it, and export fuels to Europe, Africa, and Asia — all under the guise of neutrality,” Navarro wrote in a series of posts on X.

Meanwhile, Trump’s tariffs themselves face legal hurdles at home. The US Appeals Court recently ruled the duties “illegal,” casting doubt on their long-term viability.

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Global Trade Crossroads

With the world economy already strained, Navarro’s remarks highlight the deepening rift between Washington and New Delhi. While Modi seeks to balance ties with both the West and Asian powers, the Trump administration remains adamant that India’s trade practices and geopolitical alliances are hurting American interests.