- By Shivangi Sharma
- Tue, 06 Jan 2026 11:45 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is “not that happy with me” due to tariffs imposed by Washington on Indian goods over New Delhi’s continued purchases of Russian oil, underscoring rising tensions in US–India trade ties. Speaking at the House GOP Member Retreat, Trump recalled a meeting with the Indian leader while stressing their personal rapport. “Prime Minister Modi came to see me, ‘Sir, may I see you please?’ Yes. I have a very good relationship with him,” Trump said. He added that Modi was unhappy because India is “paying a lot of tariffs now” linked to Washington’s objections to Russian oil imports.
Warning Of Higher Tariffs
Trump’s comments came a day after he warned that the US could further raise tariffs on Indian goods if New Delhi does not address American concerns. “They do trade, and we can raise tariffs on them very quickly,” Trump said, signalling that trade measures remain a key source of leverage.
The US president claimed India had reduced its reliance on Russian crude, saying New Delhi had acted partly to appease Washington. “They wanted to make me happy, basically. PM Modi’s a very good man. He’s a good guy. He knew I was not happy,” Trump said.
VIDEO | Washington, USA: “I have a very good relationship with PM Modi, but he is not happy with me as India is paying high tariffs due to its purchase of Russian oil,” says US President Donald Trump.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 6, 2026
(Source: Third Party)
(Full video available on PTI Videos –… pic.twitter.com/0wiQtakYkA
India became the largest buyer of discounted Russian seaborne crude after the Ukraine war began in 2022, a move that drew criticism from the US, which has sought to cut Moscow’s energy revenues.
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India Defends Its Energy Policy
New Delhi has consistently defended its oil purchases, stating that energy decisions are driven by national interest and the need to ensure affordable fuel supplies. Indian officials have maintained that sourcing cheaper crude helps shield domestic consumers from global price shocks.
The US has been trying to narrow its trade deficit with India and last year doubled import tariffs on Indian goods to 50 per cent, citing India’s Russian oil imports. While the two sides are negotiating a potential trade agreement, progress has been uneven.