“PM Modi Knew I Was Not Happy; It Was Important To Make Me Happy,” Says Trump In New Tariff Warning To India

“PM Modi Knew I Was Not Happy; It Was Important To Make Me Happy,” Says Trump In New Tariff Warning To India

The tension stems from India’s continued purchase of Russian crude oil, a practice the Trump administration has repeatedly opposed.

RMN News Trade Desk
New Delhi | January 5, 2026

US President Donald Trump has issued a fresh warning to India, threatening to further increase trade duties if the country does not provide assistance regarding the “Russian oil issue”. Linking the economic threat directly to the ongoing Russia–Ukraine war, Trump emphasized that Washington retains the power to raise tariffs “very quickly” if New Delhi continues its current energy trade path with Moscow.

During his remarks, Trump characterized his personal rapport with Prime Minister Narendra Modi while maintaining a firm stance on US expectations. “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. It was important to make me happy,” Trump stated.

The Russian Oil Dispute

The tension stems from India’s continued purchase of Russian crude oil, a practice the Trump administration has repeatedly opposed. Trump has alleged that these purchases strengthen Russia’s position in the Ukraine war. This disagreement previously led to a significant escalation in trade tensions when the US doubled tariffs on India to 50% in August 2025.

Despite the heavy economic pressure already in place, Trump indicated that further hikes remain on the table. He noted that while India is a trade partner, the lack of cooperation on the Russian oil issue is a primary point of contention.

Conflicting Claims on Diplomacy

Trump’s latest comments follow a series of attempts to position himself as a mediator in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. While he has held multiple rounds of talks with Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, these discussions have yet to yield a concrete path to peace.

Adding a layer of diplomatic complexity, Trump previously claimed that Prime Minister Modi had personally assured him that India would stop buying Russian oil, describing it as a “big step”. However, the Indian government later clarified that no such conversation took place, dismissing the US President’s claims.

As the 50% tariffs continue to impact Indian exports, the White House remains focused on leveraging trade policy to influence New Delhi’s energy ties with Moscow.

Think of this diplomatic relationship like a high-stakes business partnership where one partner (the US) owns the storefront and the other (India) supplies the goods. The owner is threatening to raise the “rent” (tariffs) not because the goods are bad, but because the supplier is still doing side deals with the owner’s primary competitor. The owner believes that because they have a “good” personal relationship, the supplier should prioritize the owner’s satisfaction over those outside deals to keep the business running smoothly.