Washington: White House Trade Adviser Peter Navarro has ignited a major controversy after defending US President Donald Trump’s 50% tariff on Indian imports with a caste-based remark. In an interview with Fox News on Monday, Navarro accused Brahmins in India of “profiteering at the expense of the Indian people,” while justifying the steep tariffs.

Calling India “a laundromat for the Kremlin,” Navarro alleged that New Delhi is enabling trade imbalances and geopolitical alliances that work against American interests. He criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s foreign policy, despite calling him a “great leader,” and argued that India’s growing engagement with Russia and China undermines its democratic credentials.

Navarro said, “India is the Maharaja of tariffs. They have the highest tariffs in the world. They won’t let us sell to them, so who gets hurt? Workers in America, taxpayers in America… Ukrainians are getting killed by Russian drones.” He further added, “Please understand what’s going on here. You’ve got Brahmins profiteering at the expense of the Indian people. We need that to stop.”

His remarks come shortly after PM Modi met Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, where both leaders highlighted the importance of economic cooperation and global trade stability.

The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that the meeting acknowledged progress in India-China relations since their last engagement during the BRICS Summit in Kazan in October 2024.

Navarro’s comments follow earlier accusations made on Friday, where he alleged that India’s oil refining sector is “laundering money for the Kremlin” by buying cheap Russian oil, refining it, and exporting fuels globally under the pretext of neutrality.

These statements come even as Trump’s tariffs have been declared “illegal” by the US Appeals Court, further intensifying the debate over America’s trade policies.