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India has formally responded to a social media post by Donald Trump in which he described India, China, and other countries as “hellholes,” calling the remarks “uninformed” and “inappropriate.”
In a statement, India’s Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “We have seen the comments, as also the subsequent statement issued by the US Embassy in response. The remarks are obviously uninformed, inappropriate and in poor taste. They certainly do not reflect the reality of the India-US relationship, which has long been based on mutual respect and shared interests.”
Trump shared the content on his social media platform, Truth Social, on April 23 as part of a broader argument criticizing birthright citizenship and U.S. immigration practices, particularly in the technology sector.
The reposted letter uses strong language to argue that granting citizenship to individuals born in the United States is “ludicrous,” asserting that families from countries such as India and China are able to secure legal status through children born on U.S. soil. It also claims that immigrants lack loyalty to the United States and have placed strain on public services, though no evidence is provided to support these assertions.
The text further criticizes immigrant communities and hiring trends in states including California, alleging that jobs in the technology sector are disproportionately held by individuals from India and China. It also targets the American Civil Liberties Union, accusing it of backing policies that benefit undocumented immigrants.
Birthright citizenship, guaranteed under the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, has been a recurring subject of political and legal debate in recent years. The reposted letter argues that the issue should be resolved through a national vote rather than through the courts.
Indian American Impact in its statement noted, “Just this week, we brought hundreds of Indian and South Asian Americans to Capitol Hill to remind Congress of a simple truth: we belong,” adding “We showed up because our president consistently traffics in hate. And we will keep organizing, advocating, and building power in response,”
Responding to the post, the Hindu American Foundation said, “We are deeply disturbed by POTUS sharing this hateful, racist screed targeting Indian and Chinese Americans,” adding that endorsing such rhetoric “as the president of the United States will further stoke hatred and endanger our communities,” at a time when “xenophobia and racism” are already at an all-time high.
HAF also urged Trump to reconsider, calling on him to “delete this post and recognize the indelible contributions of Asian Americans to our great country.”
