Donald Trump’s adviser Peter Navarro lost his calm on Sunday after one of his posts on India’s purchase of Russian oil was flagged with a community note on X.
Navarro, in a post, had accused India of buying Russian oil only to make profits and claimed the revenues were helping fund Moscow’s war in Ukraine.
“FACTS: India highest tariffs costs US jobs. India buys Russian oil purely to profit/Revenues feed Russia war machine. Ukrainians/Russians die. US taxpayers shell out more,” he said.
India’s Oil Trade With Russia Doesn’t Violate Sanctions
But this time, X users fact-checked his claims and clarified that India’s oil trade with Russia was mainly for energy security and did not violate any sanctions.
“India’s Russian oil purchases are for energy security, not just profit, & don’t violate sanctions. While India has some tariffs, the U.S. has a trade surplus with it in services. U.S. also continues to import certain commodities from Russia which is hypocritical,” the note read.
India Buys Russia Oil Solely To Profiteer
Navarro, however, dismissed the correction as “crap” and attacked Elon Musk for “allowing propaganda in people’s posts”.
“Wow. Elon Musk is letting propaganda into people’s posts. That crap note below is just that. Crap. India buys Russia oil solely to profiteer. It didn’t buy any before Russia invaded Ukraine. Indian govt spin machine moving high tilt. Stop killing Ukrainians. Stop taking,” he wrote in another post.
Russia-Ukraine Conflict Is “Modi’s war”
Peter Navarro’s flagged post was the latest in a series of allegations he has made against India over its Russian oil trade, following the US President’s announcement of 50% tariffs on Indian imports. He recently claimed that Russia-Ukraine Conflict was “Modi’s war.”
Trump’s 50% Tariff
Trump’s 50% tariffs took effect on August 27. Washington had first imposed a 25% tariff on New Delhi, citing unfair trade practices, and later added another 25% over India’s purchase of Russian oil.
US President Donald Trump has softened his tone on India, saying he will always be friends with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, he expressed his disappointment over India’s purchase of Russian oil, saying, “I just don’t like what he is doing at this particular moment.”
“I always will, I will always be friends with Modi, he is a great Prime Minister, he is great… I just don’t like what he is doing at this particular moment, but India and the United States have a special relationship. There is nothing to worry about,” Trump said.