Trump blasts India and Russia’s budding friendship, calls both economies “dead”

Donald Trump says he’s done with pretending. The U.S. President went on Truth Social on Thursday and torched India’s growing relationship with Russia.

“I don’t care what India does with Russia. They can take their dead economies down together, for all I care,” Trump posted.

This came just one day after he told Americans he was placing a 25% tariff on Indian imports, starting Friday. Trump said India has always leaned on Russia for its weapons and fuel, and called that a bad move.

According to Reuters, he also said that the U.S. does almost no business with Russia, and very little with India. It was a direct shot at both countries, not just for how they trade, but for who they trade with.

India reacts to tariffs, says it will protect farmers and small businesses

Within hours of Trump’s tariff announcement, New Delhi made its position public. The Indian Ministry of Commerce and Industry said it had “taken note” of the announcement and was “studying its implications.”

The statement also said India would “take all steps necessary to secure our national interest,” especially the interests of local farmers, entrepreneurs, and MSMEs.

The government didn’t pretend this came out of nowhere. It said talks with Washington have been going on for months. “India and the U.S. have been engaged in negotiations to conclude a fair, balanced, and mutually beneficial bilateral trade agreement over the last few months. We remain committed to that objective,” the ministry said.

New Delhi also brought up its recent Free Trade Agreement with the UK as proof it’s not against foreign partnerships, just not at the cost of its domestic economy. The statement made it clear that while India is open to deals, it isn’t going to roll over when it comes to protecting its own people.

Trump also pressures Putin, criticizes Medvedev, shortens peace deadline

Trump’s criticism didn’t stop with India. He also called out Russia’s former President Dmitry Medvedev, who is now Deputy Chairman of the country’s Security Council.

Medvedev had posted on X (formerly Twitter) that Trump was playing an “ultimatum game” with Moscow, warning that “each new ultimatum is a threat and a step towards war. Not between Russia and Ukraine, but with (Trump’s) own country.”

Trump fired back by expressing disappointment that Russian President Vladimir Putin hasn’t ended the war in Ukraine. He said the original deadline for a peace agreement was 50 days, but he’s now reducing that to “10 or 12.” There was no ambiguity. Trump believes Moscow has wasted time, and he’s not waiting around.

India, meanwhile, continues buying oil from Russia despite criticism from the West. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has defended the decision, saying the country is just trying to get the best price for its people.

He also pointed to what he called hypocrisy from Europe, saying, “Europe’s problems are the world’s problems, but the world’s problems are not Europe’s problems.”