Navarro accused India of aiding Russia through oil, but X fact-checked him, sparking his attack on Musk and exposing US double standards.
Navarro Targets India Over Russian Oil Imports
Peter Navarro, a White House trade adviser in the Trump administration, has again caused controversy by accusing India of supplying Russia with war material to aid its war in Ukraine. Navarro has been attacking New Delhi over the purchases of Russian energy, saying that India is buying Russian oil simply to make money and to keep the Russian war machine nourished.
In one of his posts on X, Navarro wrote:
“Facts: India’s highest tariffs cost U.S. jobs. India buys Russian oil purely to profit/Revenues feed the Russian war machine. Ukrainians/Russians die. U.S. taxpayers shell out more. India can’t handle truth/spins.”
X Responds With a Community Note
Shortly after the post was tweeted, Elon Musk, through his platform, X, fact-checked the tweet with a community note disproving his arguments. The note clarified that:
- The energy security requirements of India have motivated its Russian oil imports, and this does not breach any sanctions.
- The US itself still imports Russian uranium and minerals, which it described as a hypocritical two-sided approach.
- India does have some tariffs, but still, the US has a trade surplus with India in services.
- This X intervention changed the perspective of Navarro and infuriated the Trump aide.
Navarro Lashes Out At Musk
Angry that he was fact-checked, Navarro responded to Elon Musk, charging the latter with allowing propaganda to impact the platform. In another burning publication, he wrote:
“Wow. @elonmusk is letting propaganda into people’s posts. That crap note below is just that. Crap. India buys Russian oil solely to profiteer. It didn’t buy any before Russia invaded Ukraine. The Indian government’s spin machine is moving high tilt. Stop killing Ukrainians. Stop taking American jobs.”
X Once Again Counters Navarro
The second tweet made by Navarro was also hit with a community note that once again highlighted the fact that:
- The oil purchases in India are a sovereign choice and not a breach of international law.
- The US, even pushing New Delhi, continues to import billions of Russian products, including uranium, with a clear sign of a two-sided standard.
Broader Context of Navarro’s Attacks
Navarro has frequently criticized India, advocating increased tariffs and referring to it as things such as the Maharaja of tariffs and the launderer of the Kremlin. India has very much disapproved and refuted these remarks.
From Friendship to Fallout
The short-lived friendship between Trump and Musk collapsed in June, but Trump now openly declares that he has become a friend of Modi and lauds the relations between the two countries, India and the US.
