‘Uninformed, Inappropriate And In Poor Taste’: India On Trump’s ‘Hell-Hole’ Remark

The statement came after Trump shared content from conservative radio host Michael Savage’s podcast Savage Nation.

US President Donald Trump

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) sharply criticised remarks amplified by US President Donald Trump after he reposted comments by an American commentator describing India as a “hell-hole.”

“We have seen the comments, as also the subsequent statement issued by the US Embassy in response. The remarks are obviously uninformed, inappropriate and in poor taste. They certainly do not reflect the reality of the India-US relationship, which has long been based on mutual respect and shared interests,” the MEA said.

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The statement came after Trump shared content from conservative radio host Michael Savage’s podcast Savage Nation, in which Michael Savage argued against the United States’ birthright citizenship law and used derogatory language for India, China and other countries.

“A baby here becomes an instant citizen, and then they bring in their entire family from China, or India, or some other hell-hole on the planet,” Michael Savage wrote in a letter accompanying the podcast. He also referred to Indian and Chinese immigrants as “gangsters with laptops,” alleging they had caused more damage to the United States “than all the mafia families put together” and had “stepped on our flag.”

Trump reposted both the video and full transcript of the podcast while criticising the US Supreme Court’s deliberations on birthright citizenship. He also endorsed Michael Savage’s demand for a national referendum on the issue.

Read more: Trump Clarifies ‘Hell-Hole’ Remark, Calls India ‘Great Country’ After Row

The Congress party seized on the controversy, urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to formally protest the remarks to Trump and calling them “extremely insulting and anti-India.”

“Trump has repeatedly made insulting remarks about India, and Modi has remained silent,” the party said in a post on X, adding, “Narendra Modi is a weak PM and the entire country is bearing the brunt of it.”

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