Why India has soured on Trump ahead of US midterms
Indian officials have recently criticized the Trump administration as an insensitive partner, marking a stark contrast to the warm relationship between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Trump in 2019.
That was in 2019, when Modi praised Trump as 'warm, friendly, accessible, energetic, and full of wit' during a joint rally in Houston. Modi even declared 'This time, a Trump government!' in Hindi, showing strong support ahead of the 2020 US presidential vote. Seven years later, as Trump faces difficult midterm elections that could cripple his legislative agenda, New Delhi's relationship with Washington could not be more different.
India has long enjoyed bipartisan support in Washington, with traditionally warmer relations under Republican presidents. Ronald Reagan helped reset ties during the Cold War, while George W. Bush secured a landmark civil nuclear deal for India. By contrast, Democratic administrations were often more critical of India's human rights record.
Public criticism
India has broken with its usual practice of addressing issues with friendly nations quietly behind the scenes. Last month, Foreign Minister S Jaishankar delivered a blunt assessment of the Trump administration, calling it an insensitive partner to India's concerns over terrorism, one that has warmed to India's archrival Pakistan and pursued 'self-centred' trade policies.
Countries should not be so self-centred that you're in your own world and take your decision, and say, 'Well, it was not my intention to make your life difficult'.
Trade negotiations have reached a 'plateau beyond which giving or taking might be very difficult,' according to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Trump's Make America Great Again movement has also targeted Indians with racist tropes, accusing them of 'stealing' jobs through H-1B visa schemes, and sent undocumented Indian immigrants home shackled in chains, causing outrage in India.
Multiple crises
Since Trump's return to office in 2025, US-India relations have faced numerous crises: punitive tariffs, stalled trade deals, pressure to stop buying Russian oil, Trump's disputed claims of mediating an India-Pakistan ceasefire, closer US ties with Pakistan, higher H-1B visa fees, and immigration crackdowns affecting Indian workers.
India was among countries facing the worst Trump-imposed tariff rates. After the Supreme Court struck down his sweeping tariffs, his administration implemented a new 10 percent global tariff. Last month, Trump signed a law allowing up to 100 percent tariffs on countries like India that buy Russian oil, though he paused it before the midterms.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited India's financial hub Mumbai but skipped the capital, claiming the tariffs weren't meant to punish India but acknowledging broader foreign policy challenges. 'I think the president is trying very hard to balance that… but it will be a challenge,' he remarked.
Midterm implications
The upcoming US midterm elections are crucial for Trump, who faces the worst approval ratings of his career amid record-high gas prices. Analysts suggest a chastened Trump after midterm losses might be in India's interests, with Milan Vaishnav of the Carnegie Endowment noting that a Democrat-dominated Congress could have a 'moderating impact' on Washington's foreign policy.
However, Michael Kugelman doubts Trump's foreign policy toward India would change significantly, as Trump would continue pursuing policies he believes advance US economic interests. Praveen Donthi of the International Crisis Group suggests New Delhi hopes relations improve after Trump leaves office, but notes a weakened Trump might not bring relief as there seems to be broader consensus on pressuring India.
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