India's foreign ministry has condemned remarks shared by U.S. President Donald Trump on his Truth Social account that described India as a 'hellhole,' calling the comments 'uninformed, inappropriate and in poor taste.'

The remarks originated from a four-page transcript shared by Trump of podcaster Michael Savage's comments on birthright citizenship, in which Savage accused people from India and China of abusing the U.S. immigration system.

In the transcript, Savage said: 'A baby here becomes an instant citizen, and then they bring the entire family in from China or India or some other hellhole on the planet.'

India's Ministry of External Affairs responded without naming Trump or Savage directly, stating: 'They certainly do not reflect the reality of the India-US relationship, which has long been based on mutual respect and shared interests.'

The main opposition Congress party called the remarks 'extremely insulting and anti-Indian' and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take up the matter with the U.S. President.

What the Right Is Saying

Conservative supporters of Trump's immigration policies have defended the focus on enforcing birthright citizenship, arguing it addresses long-standing abuses of the system. The podcaster's comments were shared as part of a larger legal debate over Trump's executive order challenging birthright citizenship.

Senator Josh Hawley and other Republicans have supported strict enforcement of immigration laws, arguing that legal immigration should benefit American workers first. They note that the H-1B program has faced criticism from both parties for allegedly displacing American workers.

The Trump administration has emphasized that its policies target illegal immigration and visa abuses, not legal immigrants. White House officials have stated the president is focused on restoring economic opportunity for American workers.

What the Left Is Saying

Progressive critics and Democratic allies have called the remarks part of a broader pattern of inflammatory immigration rhetoric from the Trump administration. Congressional Progressive Caucus members have previously condemned similar language as divisive and xenophobic.

Activists with immigrant rights organizations have noted that the comments echo a campaign against legal immigration pathways, particularly the H-1B visa program that brings skilled workers to the U.S. Indian nationals account for approximately 65% of H-1B recipients.

The White House has not responded to requests for comment on the specific remarks about India. The administration has defended its broader immigration enforcement as necessary to protect American workers.

What the Numbers Show

Trump imposed a 50% tariff on Indian goods in 2025, with 25% designated as a penalty for India's purchases of Russian oil. In February 2026, the administration reduced these tariffs to 18% as part of ongoing trade negotiations.

India was the seventh-largest source of legal immigration to the U.S. in 2025, with approximately 185,000 individuals obtaining lawful permanent residence.

The H-1B visa program, heavily used by Indian nationals in technology sectors, saw 65% of its approximately 400,000 annual approvals go to Indian workers in fiscal year 2025.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to visit India next month, marking the highest-level diplomatic engagement since the tariff dispute began.

The Bottom Line

The remarks come at a sensitive moment in U.S.-India relations, which have grown increasingly strained over trade disputes and disagreements on Russia's war in Ukraine. India has faced pressure from Washington to reduce purchases of Russian oil, which the U.S. says funds Moscow's war effort.

The foreign ministry's measured responsestopped short of summoning U.S. officials, reflecting India's delicate diplomatic position as it seeks to maintain relations while addressing the remarks. The opposition Congress party's demand for formal protest puts additional pressure on Modi's government.

The controversy coincides with ongoing Supreme Court hearings on Trump's executive order attempting to end birthright citizenship for children born to undocumented immigrants and some temporary visitors. The legal outcome could reshape U.S. immigration policy for years to come.