Trump Aide Peter Navarro’s Claim About India & Russian Oil trade Fact-Checked on X, Sparks Clash with Elon Musk
washington D.C. – White House trade advisor Peter Navarro faced a public fact-check on X (formerly Twitter) after posting claims that India’s purchase of Russian oil is solely for profit and “feeds Russia’s war machine.” The post, made on September 7, 2024, drew responses from X users who argued the trade is for “energy security” and doesn’t violate sanctions.Navarro dismissed the community-generated note as “crap” and accused X owner Elon Musk of “letting propaganda into people’s posts.” He reiterated his claim that India is profiteering, writing, “India buys Russia oil solely to profiteer. It didn’t buy any before Russia invaded Ukraine. Indian govt spin machine moving high tilt. Stop killing Ukranians. Stop taking american jobs.”
This incident is the latest in a series of allegations Navarro has leveled against India regarding its Russian oil trade, particularly as former President Donald Trump announced a 50% tariff on certain indian imports. He previously used terms like ‘laundromat for the Kremlin’ and ‘Modi’s war in Ukraine’ to criticize india.
Navarro’s flagged post stated, “FACTS: India highest tariffs costs U.S. jobs. India buys Russian oil purely to profit/Revenues feed Russia war machine. Ukrainians/Russians die. U.S. taxpayers shell out more.India can’t handle truth/spins @washpo Leftist American fake news.” He was referencing a Washington Post article reporting that the rhetoric from Washington is straining diplomatic ties with India.
Recently, Navarro made the claim that “Brahmins are profiteering at the expense of Indian people,” a statement the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal rejected as “inaccurate” on Friday.
Trump’s additional 25% duties on Indian imports took effect on August 27, bringing the total tariffs to 50%, citing India’s purchase of Russian oil as justification.