The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has chosen a cautious line after a controversial social media repost by Donald Trump that referred to India and China in derogatory terms.
Responding to media queries, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal did not engage with the substance of the remark. “We have seen some reports. That's where I leave it,” he said, keeping the response brief and non-confrontational.
The reaction follows a repost by Trump on his platform Truth Social, where he shared a transcript from a talk show hosted by Michael Savage.
VIDEO | On US president Donald Trump's social media post mentioning India and China as 'hellhole', MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) says, "We have seen some reports. That's where I leave it."
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 23, 2026
(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7)#Delhi pic.twitter.com/I70F7pfCl9
What Trump reposted
In the shared transcript, Savage spoke about birthright citizenship in the United States. He claimed that individuals travel to the country late in pregnancy so their children can obtain automatic citizenship. He further alleged that such families later bring relatives from countries including India and China, which he described as “some other hellhole on the planet.”
Also Read | 'I used to support Indians': Trump’s Truth Social post ignites row over Silicon Valley hiring
Savage also argued that immigration is reshaping American society. He criticised the US Constitution, saying it is outdated and not designed for modern realities like air travel and the internet. In the same discussion, he questioned the loyalty of immigrants and aimed at the American Civil Liberties Union, accusing its lawyers of supporting undocumented migrants and calling them “gangsters with laptops.”
Iran weighs in
The remarks drew a sharp response from Iran. The Consulate General of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Hyderabad defended India and China, calling them “cradles of civilisation.”
Also Read | Post-Galwan freeze ends: After 5 years, India set to reopen tourist visas for Chinese nationals
In a post on X, the consulate said, “China and India are the cradles of Civilization. In fact, the #hellhole is where its war-criminal president threatened to decimate the civilisation in Iran.”
The statement referred to earlier warnings issued by Trump during heightened tensions with Iran, including a threat that “a whole civilisation will die tonight” if Tehran did not comply with US demands regarding the Strait of Hormuz.
While Iran’s response added an international dimension to the controversy, New Delhi has so far avoided escalation. The MEA’s restrained stance suggests an effort to sidestep direct confrontation despite the strong language circulating in public discourse.
