White House trade advisor Peter Navarro lashed out on Sunday after one of his social media posts targeting India’s Russian oil purchases was flagged with a community note on X.
The note countered Navarro’s claim that India was “profiteering” from Russian crude, stating that India’s imports were “for energy security, not just profit.”
Community Note Calls Out Navarro’s Claims
Navarro alleged that India buys Russian oil “solely to profit” and that revenues “feed Russia’s war machine.” However, X’s community notes feature fact-checked him, pointing out that:
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India’s oil purchases were aimed at ensuring energy security amid global price volatility.
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The trade does not violate sanctions.
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The US itself continues importing certain commodities from Russia, making the criticism appear hypocritical.
The note also highlighted that the US enjoys a trade surplus with India in services, countering Navarro’s narrative that India’s policies harm American jobs.
Navarro’s Outburst: Calls Note ‘Crap’, Targets Musk
Unhappy with the fact-check, Navarro dismissed the note as “crap” and attacked Elon Musk, accusing him of “letting propaganda into people’s posts.”
“India buys Russian oil solely to profiteer… Indian govt spin machine moving high tilt. Stop killing Ukrainians. Stop taking American jobs,” Navarro wrote in a follow-up post.
Long-Standing Criticism of India
This is the latest in a series of attacks by Navarro on India’s trade policies. He has previously referred to India as a:
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“Maharaja of tariffs”
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“Laundromat for the Kremlin”
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Accused Prime Minister Modi of “waging war in Ukraine”
He even controversially claimed, “Brahmins are profiteering at the expense of Indian people,” a remark India officially rejected as inaccurate through MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.
Tariffs Escalate Diplomatic Tensions
Navarro’s comments come in the wake of US President Donald Trump’s decision to impose additional 25% duties on Indian imports, effective August 27, taking total tariffs to 50%. The move was justified by the White House citing India’s Russian oil imports amid the ongoing Ukraine conflict.
The escalating rhetoric and tariff war have strained India-US trade relations, with experts warning that diplomatic ties may face further turbulence if the language from Washington remains confrontational.
