NEW DELHI: India has strongly rejected remarks describing the country as a “hellhole,” calling them “uninformed, inappropriate, and in poor taste,” after comments surfaced in a transcript shared by US President Donald Trump on his social media platform Truth Social.
The controversial statement originated from conservative radio host Michael Savage during an episode of The Savage Nation, where he made sweeping criticisms about immigration in the United States, referencing India and China in derogatory terms. Trump reposted the transcript without adding any comment, triggering diplomatic attention and political backlash.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs responded firmly, with spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stating that the comments do not reflect the reality of India–US relations, which are built on “mutual respect and shared interests.” The ministry emphasized that such remarks are inconsistent with the strong strategic partnership between the two countries.
The US Embassy in New Delhi attempted to ease tensions, highlighting Trump’s earlier positive remarks about India and its leadership, describing India as an important friend of the United States.
The incident has also drawn criticism from India’s opposition political parties, which described the comments as deeply insulting and urged the government to formally raise the issue with Washington. Leaders called for a strong diplomatic response to protect India’s global image and diaspora interests.
The controversy comes at a sensitive time in India–US relations, as both countries continue negotiations on trade cooperation and tariff stability following previous tensions over import duties. Despite periodic disagreements, both sides have maintained engagement aimed at expanding economic and strategic ties.
With nearly 5.5 million people of Indian origin residing in the United States, India remains one of the largest diaspora-linked partners of the US, making bilateral relations politically and economically significant for both nations.
