WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — Congressman Ro Khanna sharply criticized President Donald Trump for imposing a 50% tariff on Indian goods, urging Indian American supporters of Trump to denounce the move. Khanna, a Democrat representing California’s 17th District, called the tariffs “harsher than those on China” and accused Trump of undermining the U.S.-India partnership. He challenged Indian Americans who voted for Trump over Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election to speak out against what he views as a detrimental policy.
The tariffs, which took effect last week, target approximately 66% of India’s $86.5 billion in annual exports to the U.S., including textiles, jewelry, furniture, and seafood. Analysts warn that these measures could severely impact key Indian industries, potentially reducing total Indian shipments to the U.S. by 43% and jeopardizing hundreds of thousands of jobs in India.
Khanna, who co-chairs the U.S.-India Caucus, emphasized that the tariffs threaten over 30 years of bipartisan efforts to strengthen the U.S.-India alliance. He expressed concern that Trump’s actions are driven by personal motives, including a desire for a Nobel Peace Prize nomination from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Venture capitalist Vinod Khosla, who did not vote for Trump, also criticized the former president’s actions, describing them as driven by “ego” and linking them to an attempt to secure a Nobel Peace Prize nomination from Modi. Khosla stated that if Trump were to win the Nobel Peace Prize, he would “stop caring about who wins the Nobel,” calling it a “dirtbag medal”.
The trade tensions have strained diplomatic relations between the U.S. and India. A recent report from the U.S. Congressional Research Service warns that Trump’s actions threaten to destabilize a relationship built over 25 years, citing the imposition of steep tariffs and other diplomatic missteps.
