September 21, 2025

Hold your breath, India-US fans! In a shocking turn, US President Donald Trump has dropped not one, but three big shocks on India. First, the famous H-1B visa program — a lifeline for many Indian tech workers — got a brutal hit. Just days before, the US pulled back sanctions waiver on India’s Chabahar port in Iran. And that’s not all! A hefty 50% tariff on Indian exports shook the trade scene recently. Together, these hits are rocking the foundation of India-US relations.

Here’s the spicy part: Trump and his White House did not even directly mention India when making these moves. Yet, experts are left baffled, as just last week, the leaders from both countries exchanged warm messages, hinting at a fresh friendship. Derek Grossman, a top security analyst, sarcastically asked, “How’s the reset going?” Meanwhile, India’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal is heading to Washington to push for a trade deal both countries seem keen on.

Some think the visa crackdown was a pressure move to push India on trade talks. But insiders say no, Trump was actually set on reforming the guest worker visa program for a while. MAGA hardliners convinced him that American workers were losing out to foreign firms and big tech. A tech insider revealed, "Nothing excites him more than visions of billions of dollars in revenue and they played that up for him." Trump now believes "big tech should pay Uncle Sam top dollar if they truly want top talent."

Security-wise, the US seems like a ship with a broken compass! A former White House official mentioned how the State Department and Pentagon want to build strong India ties, but the White House is “on its own trip.” The official added that there’s a lack of regional experts at the White House and key meetings have stopped. Instead, Trump listens to people who don’t always understand the issues.

Adding to the drama, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia recently signed a surprise mutual defense pact, possibly with nuclear protection. This pact came right after Israel bombed Doha targeting Hamas operatives, causing unease among US allies. Even Trump admitted he was "not thrilled" by Israel’s strike.

The situation is so chaotic that the former official called it a “s**tshow,” saying, “no one really knows what is happening…they are just winging it day to day.” Trump recently claimed the US wants to regain control of Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan because it is just "an hour away from where China makes its nuclear weapons."

This week, Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will visit New York for the UN General Assembly. He plans to meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and others to talk about these twists and turns. But one thing is clear — Trump’s unpredictable style and his team’s scramble to keep up are making India-US ties more complicated than ever.

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Tags: Trump, India-us relations, H-1b visa, Chabahar port, Pakistan-saudi defense pact, Us foreign policy,