Rahul Gandhi’s Trump Endorsement Sparks Party and Opposition Disagreement
New Delhi — Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has stirred controversy by endorsing U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent criticism of the Indian economy, calling it “dead.” The endorsement, aimed at attacking the Modi government, has triggered pushback not just from the ruling BJP but also from Gandhi’s own party colleagues and opposition allies.
Trump’s remark came shortly after he announced a 25% tariff on Indian imports, further escalating trade tensions. “I don’t care what India does with Russia. They can take their dead economies down together,” Trump said, adding that India’s tariffs remain among the highest in the world.
Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Gandhi said he agreed with Trump’s comments, which appeared on the former U.S. President’s social media platform, Truth Social. “He is right. Everybody knows this, except the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister,” said Gandhi. He blamed the Modi government’s economic missteps—particularly demonetisation and the Goods and Services Tax—for what he called a collapse in India’s economic vitality. “MSMEs have been wiped out, farmers are crushed, and ‘Assemble in India’ has failed,” he added, referencing the Centre’s Make in India initiative.
However, Gandhi’s endorsement of the remark quickly drew dissent from senior Congress leaders. Shashi Tharoor, MP from Thiruvananthapuram, struck a more measured tone. “We have ongoing negotiations with the EU and recently concluded a deal with the UK. If the U.S. becomes unreasonable, India should diversify its trade partnerships,” he said. Emphasising India’s strong domestic market, Tharoor maintained that the country was not overly dependent on exports and should not bow to external pressure. “We must support our negotiators in securing a fair deal. If that’s not possible, walking away should be an option,” he said.
Rajya Sabha MP Rajiv Shukla also disagreed with Gandhi’s interpretation. “Trump’s comment is baseless. Our economy is not weak,” Shukla told ANI. He further stated that Trump’s assertions likely stem from a misunderstanding or “delusion,” and dismissed the significance of recent U.S.-Pakistan oil trade talks, saying, “No country can dictate whom we do business with.”
From outside the Congress, criticism came from Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi, a vocal opposition leader. She condemned Trump’s comments as rooted in “arrogance or ignorance,” and defended India’s economic standing. Her remarks underscored a rare moment where opposition unity broke down in response to foreign commentary on India’s internal matters.
Not that one needs to say it there’s enough legitimate data available to know that Indian economy is in the top 5 of the world and one of the fastest growing economies. Calling it a dead economy can only come from a position of arrogance or ignorance. Thank you for your attention…
— Priyanka Chaturvedi🇮🇳 (@priyankac19) July 31, 2025
The ruling BJP was quick to seize the moment. Party IT cell head Amit Malviya said Rahul Gandhi had “hit a new low” by aligning with foreign criticism of India. “This is a shameful insult to the aspirations and achievements of the Indian people,” Malviya stated. He pointed to India’s continued status as the fastest-growing major economy, citing positive projections from both the IMF and World Bank. “The only thing truly dead here is Rahul Gandhi’s political credibility,” he added.
Tamil Nadu BJP president K. Annamalai also weighed in, drawing a contrast between Gandhi and Tharoor. “One spoke for India’s interests. The other seemed to echo foreign voices,” he said. Annamalai accused Gandhi of ignoring India’s global rise and called him out for undermining national progress with politically motivated statements.
The incident has once again highlighted internal differences within the Congress party and raised questions about the opposition’s coherence on key national issues. While Gandhi may have sought to capitalise on a provocative foreign statement to target the government, the backlash has revealed deeper rifts within his own political alliance.
As global trade dynamics shift and the U.S.-India relationship faces new friction, the episode underscores the complexity of using international statements as political ammunition in domestic discourse. For now, it appears that Rahul Gandhi’s move may have done more to isolate him politically than to damage the Modi government’s economic narrative.
