‘We’ve Lost India to Darkest China’: Trump’s Shocking Post With Modi-Xi-Putin Photo Sparks Furor

In a move that has roiled diplomatic circles, US President Donald Trump posted a provocative message on social media, claiming the United States has “lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest, China” . The post, shared on his Truth Social platform, included a photograph of Prime Minister Narendra Modi walking with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, igniting a fresh debate over Washington’s tense relationship with New Delhi amid an ongoing tariff dispute .

Trump’s cryptic message, “Looks like we’ve lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest, China. May they have a long and prosperous future together!” was accompanied by a misleading image . While many assumed the photo was from the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, it was actually from a previous BRICS summit, framed to suggest India was falling in line behind China and Russia . Analysts suggest the post was less a direct critique of India and more a politically charged message for his domestic audience in Washington, challenging critics who accuse him of weakening global alliances .

The post comes at a time of significant friction between India and the US, following Trump’s decision to impose steep 50% tariffs on Indian imports, partly in response to New Delhi’s continued energy trade with Moscow . Critics, including former US officials, argue that Trump’s own policies are pushing India closer to rivals like China . Indian officials have pushed back against Trump’s narrative, emphasizing that the country’s foreign policy is guided by “strategic autonomy” . They stress that participating in multilateral forums like BRICS or the SCO does not mean choosing sides against the US .

Reflecting this stance, India has decided not to participate at the leaders’ level in the upcoming virtual BRICS summit, which is expected to issue a statement criticizing US tariffs . Furthermore, the India-US partnership continues with ongoing engagements like the ‘Yudh Abhyas’ joint military exercise in Alaska and recent high-level meetings under the 2+2 dialogue framework . While India’s External Affairs Ministry declined to offer a direct comment on Trump’s post, it reiterated that the India-US relationship is “very important” and anchored in shared interests and democratic values