Trump's Derogatory Remarks About India And China As 'Hellholes' Have Sparked Outrage — News18

[0:00] Mr. Modi. [0:01] Meanwhile, murder most foul, an IAT graduate and daughter of an IRS officer is murdered [0:07] by a former domestic employee in the heart of South Delhi. [0:11] A brutality shocks the entire nation. [0:14] Meanwhile, as we were discussing, Trump crosses the Lakshman Rekha, [0:17] likens India as well as China to hell holes in a rancid post ahead of the hearing [0:23] on birthright citizenship in the top court of the United States. [0:26] But as we were discussing this, this is the fresh post that has come in with Trump, [0:30] something that has sparked controversy, sending shockwaves across the world, [0:35] primarily back here in India. [0:36] The U.S. president shared a strongly worded letter on his platform Truth Social [0:40] in which he referred to countries like India and China as hell holes. [0:44] While launching a broad attack on birthright citizenship in the United States, [0:47] the letter also makes sweeping claims about hiring practices in California's tech sector, [0:52] something that has been dominated by Indians, alleging that jobs are dominated by individuals [0:57] from India as well as China. [0:59] However, it offers no evidence to substantiate these assertions. [1:03] At its core, the post targets the longstanding policy of birthright citizenship, [1:07] a debate that continues to resurface in U.S. political as well as legal circles. [1:12] Now, the letter argues that the policy allows immigrants to secure citizenship [1:16] for their children and eventually bring extended family members into the country. [1:21] It further contends that the issue should not be left to courts or legal experts, [1:26] but instead be decided through a national vote, is the pitch that has come in from Donald Trump [1:32] through this post that he has put on Truth Social. [1:36] I'm joined by my colleague Rahul Shrivshankar to decode this further. [1:38] Rahul, so a very shocking statement coming in from Donald Trump, [1:42] someone who has touted his friendship with Prime Minister Modi, [1:44] but calling India a hell hole, not going down well when it comes to the immediate reaction [1:50] coming back home, but also very hypocritical given the fact that his own wife, [1:55] Melania Trump, has used this entire clause to bring her entire family to the United States. [1:59] No, no, absolutely. [2:00] Look, we all know that Donald Trump is not just a shock jock, [2:06] but there is also an element now of racism that couches his politics and this was obvious even during the campaign. [2:14] He had made certain remarks against immigrants from Somalia, from Haiti, from several countries [2:22] and also had used unparliamentary language to describe India back then. [2:28] The point is, at that point, he was just a contender. [2:35] Today, of course, he's the President of the United States. [2:41] He comes out on almost a daily basis saying that he respects Prime Minister Modi. [2:46] He's great friends with Prime Minister Modi. [2:49] He's a great lover of, as he calls them, Hindu, [2:54] because he probably doesn't know the difference between Hindus and Indians. [2:57] So, this man is not somebody who is very well informed. [3:05] He's informed by prejudice, but not much by intelligence. [3:10] But nonetheless, he is playing to a gallery of extreme mega supporters. [3:16] And unfortunately, in doing so, he's leaning into the stereotypes that are basically, [3:28] at some level or the other, uttered against Indians in blue-collar circles in America. [3:36] So, the base instinct is to try and other all immigrants to ensure that he can consolidate the vote. [3:45] That's what he's doing. [3:46] And this particular issue of birthright citizenship has struck a chord with a large number of Americans [3:56] and is right now being contested in court. [3:59] And one of the lawyers, let me tell you, who is also fighting against the Trump administration [4:06] or the views of the MAGA crowd and so on and so forth, happens to be an Indian-origin lawyer. [4:13] She's the one who's actually framed this case and she has been fighting for birthright citizenship. [4:21] So, it's interesting that he has chosen to repost something in which all these pejoratives [4:29] are today sort of making themselves felt. [4:34] But the question that we have to ask ourselves is that any moment now, [4:37] the MEA is going to be holding a briefing for the press. [4:43] And whether the MEA will take note of this, there will be, of course, questions put to the MEA spokesperson. [4:50] Will they respond substantively? [4:52] Because questions are being asked of the government already by opposition leaders [4:56] as to why the government is silent when India has been compared to a hellhole by a leader [5:03] who is supposedly invested in a strategic partnership of a comprehensive nature with India. [5:10] So, fundamentally, this is now a matter that will have to be responded to. [5:15] Should we even be responding to it is a question that we can always ask. [5:19] But Akanksha is there. [5:20] Let's go across to Akanksha. [5:23] Akanksha, are you also awaiting a gog at what the MEA is going to be saying? [5:30] Right, Rahul. [5:31] We are at the Ministry of External Affairs, Jawaharlal Nehru Bhavan, right now. [5:36] And this is the only chatter right now among all the press reporters over here. [5:41] We are expecting a response from the Ministry of External Affairs. [5:44] But remember, there is always this plausible deniability that the U.S. can use given that [5:51] the comments are a transcript of the podcaster Michael Savage, which the U.S. president has [5:57] endorsed on Truth Social. [5:59] Nonetheless, when the U.S. president endorses an entire transcript, which is referring to [6:04] the third world countries with extremely derogatory language, is comparing India to a hellhole, [6:12] talking about how outdated the American Constitution is and that the matter of birthright citizenship [6:20] should not be fought in a courtroom, should be taken up for consensus. [6:25] But let's look at, let's fact check Donald Trump. [6:29] You know, let's fact check Donald Trump. [6:31] Let me first tell you what he has said, viewers. [6:33] As we await the MEA's response, and we also have Brahma Chiraini with us. [6:37] He needs no introduction. [6:38] India's finest strategic experts. [6:42] Let's have a look at what he has said. [6:44] He says, a baby here becomes an instant citizen, and then they bring the entire family in from [6:49] China or India or some other hellhole on the planet. [6:53] You don't have to go too far to see that. [6:55] English is not spoken here anymore. [6:57] And there's almost no loyalty to this country amongst the immigrant class coming in today, [7:01] which is not always the case. [7:04] Now, just think about it, viewers. [7:05] Of course, his vice president has married an immigrant. [7:08] He himself has married an immigrant. [7:11] The person who he trusts America's intelligence with is a desi, of desi origin. [7:22] Then he goes on to say, or he's quoting somebody and saying they're also abusing it. [7:28] I used to be a great supporter of Indians in India until I opened my eyes up to what's going on here. [7:34] White men need not apply to jobs in the state of California. [7:37] Never mind in high tech. [7:39] I don't care what your qualifications are. [7:41] You're not getting a job at high tech in California. [7:44] It's a fact that Americans have not been investing in STEM. [7:49] Very few graduate in STEM. [7:52] And therefore, countries like India, where have a strong tradition of engineers and STEM higher studies, [8:00] are looked upon favorably. [8:02] Then he goes on to say, they've done more damage to this nation than all the mafia families put together. [8:08] In my unhumble opinion, gangsters with laptops. [8:11] They've robbed us blind, treated us like second class citizens. [8:15] Let the turd world triumph. [8:17] It's the word, viewers. [8:19] I don't need to tell you what this actually means. [8:23] Stepped on our flag, etc. [8:25] This is what this man is reposting. [8:29] And you just have to look at the facts. [8:31] In fact, I think we've put together a series of facts, Ayushman, which you can actually quickly refer to, [8:38] which will highlight the contributions that these gangsters, so-called gangsters with laptops, [8:45] have made to the American economy. [8:48] Far from, at any level, bleeding America, they have built America. [8:53] But who's going to tell that to Donald Trump? [8:56] We can fulminate. [8:57] We can show him all the facts. [8:58] But it's about time that the Indian government would step up to the plate and say, [9:03] look, you know, we have no problems with what you say. [9:07] We have a problem in the manner in which you say it. [9:10] You're free to speak your mind, Mr. Trump. [9:13] But remember, there are sensitivities involved. [9:15] Because by saying all of this, what are you doing? [9:17] You're whipping up an anti-Indian origin sentiment. [9:20] Is Donald Trump going to take responsibility if people start lynching Indians on the street or Indian origin settlers there on the streets? [9:30] Is he going to? [9:31] That's the fundamental question. [9:32] And just from that angle, I think the time has come where somebody needs to tell Mr. Trump where to get off. [9:42] Back to you. [9:42] Absolutely. [9:43] If you look at the contributions of Indians to the American story, ladies and gentlemen, [9:48] because remember, in his first term, Donald Trump got in trouble by using the term SHIT, [9:53] whole countries when referring to immigration. [9:56] India was not part of that entire conversation. [9:59] But clearly through this Truth Social post, [10:01] he has drawn that focus on India when it comes to the immigration story. [10:06] At the same time, this is the contribution that Indian Americans make on a daily basis to American culture and American growth. [10:15] Indian Americans are just 1.5% of the population, but they pay 5 to 6% of taxes. [10:21] Donald Trump knows something about taxes because he has created an entire career of dodging those taxes [10:26] while the Indian Americans follow the law of the land. [10:29] Indian Americans employ 3.1 million people, [10:32] indirectly support 11.5 million jobs through the tech sector as well as entrepreneurship. [10:39] Indians deliver the highest GDP boost among all immigrant groups because of the focus on law and order, [10:46] this culture of STEM as well as inculcating Indian values into the wider American society, [10:52] something that is central to the Indian diaspora in the United States. [10:56] Indian Americans lead 11 Fortune 500 companies. [10:59] You look at Google, Microsoft, Adobe, they are led by Indians and Indian minds. [11:04] Number 5, 10% of all U.S. patents have Indians as co-inventors, [11:09] something that has been central to the rise of Silicon Valley and the tech boom [11:13] that America has taken advantage of as a strategic asset on the global stage. [11:18] The Indian story is very central to that. [11:21] Number 6, Indian American researchers are part of 13% of scientific publications. [11:26] That entire campaign against H-1B is something that goes, [11:31] is completely antithetical to the boom that America has seen through the entire attraction of talent from India [11:39] and the tech talent which has only bolstered the American economy, [11:42] giving that strategic edge to the American nation. [11:46] Indians have co-founded 72 of the 648 U.S. unicorns just in 2024, 11% of the total. [11:53] So you can see how Indian minds and entrepreneurship powers the American growth story. [11:58] Number 8, Indian origin physicians make up 10% of U.S. doctors. [12:03] So even in the medical field, Indians are way ahead. [12:06] Number 9, Indian Americans own 60% of all U.S. hotels. [12:10] The growth story of the Gujarati community inside the United States is the hospitality sector. [12:15] Number 10, they have leadership roles in 70% of top 50 U.S. universities, even academia. [12:22] So you have tech, you have public service, you have academia, you have medicine. [12:27] Indian Americans take center stage. [12:29] The culture of inculcating their values into American society and entrepreneurship, [12:34] something central to their contribution to the American story. [12:37] Just 1.5% of the population, but this is the contribution. [12:41] Rahul. [12:41] Absolutely, this is a contribution. [12:43] So if nominal fact check shows that Donald Trump is just spreading hate without basis, [12:50] that is the MEA press briefing that has begun. [12:53] I want to go straight across to Mr. Chileni. [12:55] Mr. Chileni, how do you view this? [12:58] Has the time come perhaps for India to take a stand or should we even bother with what this man says [13:03] because he's so unpredictable, erratic and senseless? [13:06] You raise a very important question, Rahul. [13:10] The fact is that Trump has normalized racist rhetoric. [13:17] He has called Somali immigrants garbage. [13:21] He has recirculated videos showing the Obamas as apes. [13:29] And in terms of his rhetoric against Indian Americans, we should not forget that their costs, [13:39] such rhetoric, you know, does impose. [13:42] For example, Indian Americans in the Republican Party. [13:46] I'm talking of people in the administration and those who are in the Republican Party. [13:52] Just hold your thoughts. [13:53] I'm being told that the MEA is responding on Trump. [13:56] Let's just quickly go across. [13:57] Go back to Brahma Chileni. [14:23] The big breaking news, viewers, is that the MEA says on Trump's post, [14:29] we have seen reports, that is where I leave it. [14:32] So quite clearly, the Indian government has decided for this moment in time [14:38] to note the statement but not comment on it substantively. [14:43] Merely saying we have seen reports, that is where I leave it. [14:47] Let me go back to Brahma Chileni. [14:49] Mr. Chileni, how do you view this? [14:51] The racist backlash facing Indian Americans within the administration and the Republican Party [14:59] is hardly surprising given Trump's increasing, increasing emphasis on making racist statements. [15:10] Elements of white supremacist messaging and Christian nationalist narrative [15:15] have become increasingly apparent in Trump's statements, even in his policies. [15:22] And his current administration represents a significant break from the trajectory [15:28] of U.S. administrations in the post-World War II period. [15:33] There was a conscious effort after World War II to define the U.S. identity in multicultural terms. [15:42] He's now taking the U.S. back by underscoring or actually repeating white supremacist messaging. [15:52] So racist and religious overtones in his statements, in his policies, have become almost normal. [16:06] If you look at the Indian Americans within the Trump administration, the Republican Party, [16:11] they are being cast as threats to the demographic and cultural identity of the U.S. [16:15] They have been labeled as invaders or Trojan horses within the MAGA movement. [16:22] So when Trump normalizes racist rhetoric, it clearly carries cause for the minorities. [16:34] Yes, it does. [16:35] But are you disappointed that the Indian government hasn't taken a more strident position, Mr. Chileni? [16:40] Very quickly, and I'll bring in Akanksha right after that. [16:42] She's been tracking this press conference. [16:44] Rahul, I'm not surprised because, let's face it, he's going to China. [16:52] China is about to roll off the red carpet to greet him. [16:57] China will not utter a word on what he has said or, you know, reposted. [17:05] And India is traditionally more cautious than other states. [17:11] So I'm not surprised that the MAGA has decided not to speak up. [17:18] But I think it's not what, you know, even if the MAGA speaks up, it wouldn't matter because [17:24] the racial element, racial and religious element in Trump's rhetoric is most disturbing. [17:34] It's undercutting America's soft power. [17:36] It is making it more difficult for the U.S. to talk about values abroad because such talk rings hollow. [17:45] So there are costs for U.S. diplomacy. [17:48] There are costs for America's own image overseas. [17:52] Right. [17:53] But, Mr. Chileni, at the same time, if we look at Donald Trump's tanking ratings inside the United States, [17:59] do you think this is an attempt to shore up his base ahead of the midterm elections, number one? [18:03] And number two, given America's position in the global power dynamics, does he feel that he can have his cake and eat it too? [18:12] Well, you raise a good question. [18:16] The thing is that the midterm election outcome will be determined by core issues, including the economy, [18:27] including Trump's image at home, whether he has actually lived up to the promises that he made [18:34] when he sought re-election, those will matter more than, for example, his racist rhetoric against Chinese or Indians. [18:46] The thing is that he came to power, he returned to power on the basis of a broad ethnic and racial coalition. [18:57] Hispanic voters for the first time voted in huge numbers for the Republican Party. [19:02] Indian Americans, who were traditionally voters of the Democratic Party, many of them switched sides, voted Republican. [19:12] That coalition has fractured now. [19:15] And, in fact, many Republicans are wanting that the fracturing of this coalition spells trouble for the Republican Party at the polls. [19:25] Right. So, Akanksha, does that seem to be the logic behind this restraint coming in from the MEA, [19:32] thinking that we need to keep the ties intact, this is just three more years of Donald Trump, [19:37] and at the same time, we have bigger fish to fry beyond these statements coming in from the U.S. President? [19:45] So, the word that you use, bigger fish to fry, is the key aspect right now, [19:50] which might explain the restraint currently being endorsed by the Ministry of External Affairs, [19:54] because, remember, reports are already indicating that the trade talks, [19:58] because the Indian trade delegation has been in Washington today, [20:02] they happen to be in Washington, and they are at a conclusive stage. [20:07] We've already seen how muddled the first tranche or the build-up to the first tranche of the bilateral trade agreement has been for India, [20:13] given that we are looking at an administration which is governed by a president who is extremely whimsical in his approach [20:21] and is known to be taking to social media, endorsing views that too of others, [20:28] where he's also bringing embarrassment to his own administration. [20:32] And India will choose to see how we take what, say, the other diplomatic channels is something we'll have to see. [20:44] But the trade delegation is very much in Washington, and we are being told that the talks have concluded. [20:51] Given the sanctions on oil and energy, there's been no extension on the energy waiver that was with regards to Russia. [21:00] We only have one option to amp up our energy purchases with the United States. [21:06] So it is, in fact, a choice between the devil and the deep blue sea for India, [21:12] and India will have to prioritize its business engagements with the United States. [21:17] That doesn't mean that India will not take it with the higher channels. [21:20] There's already been a lot of chatter on the U.S. Embassy group, [21:23] where journalists have posed questions to the embassy. [21:26] If they also endorse the views that have been shared by the U.S. President on his social posts. [21:32] There's, of course, been a very strategic silence being maintained over there. [21:36] The word we're also picking up from our sources within the ministry is that it will be taken up. [21:41] How they choose to take up, we don't know. [21:43] But in the public domain, yes, you heard that word coming from Mr. Ranbir Jaiswal, [21:48] the Honorable Spokesperson of the ministry, where he's saying that he'll leave it at that [21:52] in terms of where the views that have been shared by the U.S. President. [21:56] But our priority right now remains the business. [21:59] Our priority remains to steer clear of any tariffs, [22:04] to increase and get our energy purchases. [22:07] And perhaps that's the pragmatic way out, Ayushman. [22:10] Right. And Brahma Chalaini, there is a term that is pretty famous when it comes to, [22:15] and Rahul is also joining us on the broadcast as well. [22:18] Rahul, there's a term that's very famous when it comes to Donald Trump. [22:21] It's called Teflon Don. [22:23] Nothing really sticks to him. [22:24] We also saw when he posted that meme of the Obamas as apes, [22:28] he pretty much just brushed it off saying that I didn't post it, [22:31] one of my aides posted it, and then I took it down. [22:34] And then you just move on to the next controversy. [22:37] But cumulatively, the message is pretty loud and clear to his base. [22:42] Yes, well, I don't know about Teflon Don, [22:45] because at this moment, let me tell you, his approval ratings are by his socks. [22:49] And he was, of course, also kicked out of office after his first term. [22:54] So he's been able to rally a huge number of bigoted, [22:59] small-minded or closed-minded individuals, unfortunately. [23:03] And I have to say this because I don't see any world leader [23:08] who aspires to be a statesman using this language [23:12] because he thinks it's going to, at some level or the other, consolidate his base. [23:18] Because if his base is made up of individuals that share his worldview, [23:22] then God help America, to be very, very honest. [23:24] And I'm being extremely blunt here. [23:26] And I also do feel that perhaps the Indian government should really go back, [23:30] look at this statement, and come up with a comprehensive response. [23:35] Maybe, perhaps, I don't know, maybe even issue a dimash, [23:39] or at least have the Indian ambassador in America take this up with, [23:46] in a very, how should one say it, visible way, [23:50] with the American administration, with the U.S. State Department. [23:53] Because I don't think this kind of language is helpful to bilateral relations. [23:59] Remember, in just the next few hours, [24:02] the Indian trade delegation is landing in America. [24:06] Now, you're going to be sitting across the room [24:08] with a country that you have called a hellhole. [24:12] You have suggested it's a place from where people with no prospects show up. [24:16] But you are actually talking trade with that country [24:20] because you believe it is of some import to your economic prospects. [24:25] Now, that is a sheer contradiction in term. [24:28] And I think the time has come where that is pointed out in blunt terms to Donald Trump. [24:34] He thinks he can get away with this, with Pakistan and some other podunk countries. [24:38] But India is in a different class. [24:41] And I think the time has come when he has delivered that message, [24:45] either softly or bluntly. [24:47] But the tragedy is that even within the Republican Party, [24:50] the party that he controls, which has the likes of Nikki Haley, [24:52] as well as Bobby Jindal and other Indian Americans, [24:55] no one is likely to raise a voice against Donald Trump, [24:57] despite his rhetoric, which has, you know, [25:00] pretty much sent shockwaves across the world, [25:04] primarily given the contribution that Indian Americans make [25:06] to the American story, as well as American growth. [25:09] Ramachaleni, Rahul, as well as Akanksha, [25:11] thank you for decoding this for us on News Periscope. [25:14] We will continue to track all those developments coming in. [25:17] For now, a quick break. [25:18] More news and updates on the other side.