New Delhi: US President Donald Trump has made a number of false or blatantly incorrect claims about India. His claims have often been at odds with the truth, ranging from economic to trade policy lies. New Delhi immediately reacted diplomatically to Trump’s decision of 25% further tariffs on Indian imports, which also sparked concerns about the West’s constancy on sanctions against Russian energy.
“India Stopped Buying Russian Oil” is a fact-check of Trump.
Trump’s assertion: “I know that India will no longer purchase oil from Russia. What I heard was that. That’s a positive move, but I’m not sure if it’s correct.
Fact Check: India is still importing Russian crude oil, according to official sources.
“India is the Tariff King”
According to Trump, India is the “Tariff King” and violates international trade regulations.
Fact Check: India’s simple average tariff is 16.4%, which is similar to that of countries like Argentina (13.4%) and Turkey (16.2%). The weighted average tariff for India is just 4.6%.
“India is a Dead Economy”
India’s “dead economy” and the US’s “very little business” with it are Trump’s claims.
Fact Check: Despite Trump’s claim, India continues to be the United States’ top trading partner for the fourth year in a row, with bilateral trade reaching $131.84 billion in FY 2024–2025. Indian imports from the US totaled $45.33 billion, while exports to the US increased by 11.6% to $86.51 billion.
Under the “Mission 500” strategy, the two nations have established a goal of $500 billion in bilateral commerce by 2030.
India and Pakistan’s ceasefire
Trump’s claim is that he personally mediated a ceasefire between Pakistan and India, averting a nuclear exchange.
Fact Check: Trump’s allegation is unsupported by any official proof. It has been made clear by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar that the United States did not mediate a ceasefire.
“There was never any connection between what was happening and commerce in any discussion with the United States. Second, Mr. Jaishankar stated in Parliament that there was no communication between the Prime Minister and President Trump from April 22, when the President called to express his sympathies, to June 17, when he contacted the Prime Minister in Canada to explain why he was unable to meet.
“1,000 Years War”
According to Trump, “There have been tensions on that border for 1,500 years… a thousand-year fight in Kashmir.”
Fact Check: After India was divided and gained its independence in 1947, the conflict between India and Pakistan over Kashmir started. Trump’s 1,000-year claim is unsupported by history. Kashmir was not a part of the Indo-Pakistani conflict before 1947, when it was a British princely state.
Offer of Kashmir Mediation
Trump’s Claim: In 2019, PM Modi requested that he arbitrate the Kashmir dispute.
Fact Check: India flatly denied that they had received any such request. “PM Modi has not made any such request to the US President,” the Ministry of External Affairs said. India has consistently maintained that only bilateral discussions are allowed to address any unresolved concerns with Pakistan.
“India Got A Sweeter Paris Deal”
Trump’s Argument: His withdrawal was warranted because India received a “sweeter deal” under the Paris Climate Accord.
Verified: India is the first G20 nation to have fulfilled its obligations under the Paris Climate Agreement. International climate monitors have commended India’s nationally determined contributions (NDCs).
“India is Taking American Jobs”
Trump’s Statement: “Our jobs are being taken by India… People, it won’t happen any more.”
Fact Check: According to a 2023 Confederation of Indian Industry report, Indian businesses have invested $40 billion and produced over 425,000 jobs in the US. Between 2019 and 2023, Indian students also made $7.7 billion in economic contributions to the US each year.
Major US companies like Google, Microsoft, IBM, and Adobe are led by CEOs of Indian descent, fostering American innovation and competitiveness.
