‘Modi Was Ripping Us Off’: Trump Praises India Ties but Defends Tariff Deal After Supreme Court Blow

Responding to questions about the impact of the judgment, Trump said, “Nothing changes,” asserting that India would continue paying tariffs under the revised agreement.

Remarks on PM Modi and Trade Terms

While praising his relationship with Prime Minister Narendra ModiTrump also claimed that India had previously benefited disproportionately from trade terms.

“I think Prime Minister Modi is a great gentleman… but he was much smarter than the people he was dealing with in the United States; he was ripping us off,” Trump said, adding that the revised deal represented a “fair arrangement.”

Under the interim framework announced earlier, tariff levels on India were reduced from 25% to 18%, following negotiations tied to energy purchases and broader trade commitments.

Claim on Russian Oil Imports

Trump also claimed that India had “pulled way back” from buying Russian oil at his request, linking the move to efforts to address the ongoing conflict involving Moscow.

Indian officials, however, have consistently maintained that energy procurement decisions are guided by national interest and diversified sourcing. New Delhi has neither confirmed nor denied any specific reduction tied to US requests.

Trump’s Claim on India-Pakistan Ceasefire

The US President reiterated his earlier assertion that he had helped de-escalate tensions between India and Pakistan by leveraging tariff pressure.

India has repeatedly rejected claims of US mediation, stating that the ceasefire understanding was reached after direct communication between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of the two countries.

Supreme Court Strikes Down Tariffs

In a landmark decision, the US Supreme Court invalidated many of Trump’s global tariffs, ruling that the administration exceeded its authority by invoking the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose broad trade levies without congressional approval.

The court held that the US Constitution grants Congress — not the President — the power to impose taxes and tariffs.

During the proceedings, the administration indicated that refunds could be issued if the tariffs were deemed unlawful. However, the judgment did not address the refund mechanism.

10% Temporary Global Tariff Announced

In response to the ruling, Trump announced a temporary 10% global import duty for 150 days. He also initiated fresh probes under alternative trade laws that could potentially allow his administration to reintroduce tariff measures through different legal channels.

The development has added uncertainty to global markets and trade negotiations, particularly for major partners such as India.