US President Donald Trump’s latest social media post stirred debate in both Washington and New Delhi. In a message on Truth Social, Donald Trump claimed that India and Russia were “lost" to China, sharing an image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi walking with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The post quickly went viral, but its content raised questions for three reasons: the context, the imagery and the interpretation of India’s foreign policy.
Donald Trump’s language appeared less a comment on India than a message to the American policy establishment. By suggesting that India had “slipped away," he implicitly challenged his critics in Washington who have accused him of weakening alliances.
At the same time, the photograph used was misleading. It was not from the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, as many assumed, but from an earlier BRICS summit. In the picture, PM Modi walks behind Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin- a visual that Donald Trump framed as evidence of India aligning with them against the United States.
Indian officials, however, note that participation in forums like BRICS does not amount to choosing sides.
Analysts also point out that Donald Trump’s suggestion- that India’s presence at multilateral summits undermines the India-US partnership- ignores the bigger picture. Recent American tariff hikes on Indian exports have been a far more direct source of friction. In this sense, Donald Trump’s message appears to shift blame toward India rather than acknowledging Washington’s own actions.
The post may also mark the start of a fresh round of China-bashing on Donald Trump’s platform. By portraying India as drifting toward Beijing, he creates an opening to intensify his anti-China rhetoric. Yet, critics note that his sharpest language was reserved for India, while China- despite being described as “dark" and “evil"- was not subjected to any new threats or punitive proposals.
Indian diplomats emphasise that New Delhi’s relationship with Beijing or Moscow does not mean turning its back on Washington. India’s foreign policy is guided by strategic autonomy-engaging with multiple powers to safeguard its interests, without aligning entirely with one bloc or another. In practice, the India-US relationship continues to function actively.
The 2+2 ministerial dialogue took place in August, the Yudh Abhyas military exercise is underway in Alaska and the Defence Policy Group met recently in New Delhi. Moreover, India has chosen not to participate at the leaders’ level in the upcoming BRICS virtual summit on September 8, which is expected to issue a joint statement criticising US tariffs.
Ultimately, Donald Trump’s post misrepresents both an image and India’s policy. Far from being “lost," India continues to balance its ties with major powers while steadily deepening cooperation with the United States.
Officials in New Delhi insist that the India-US friendship is much stronger than isolated remarks on social media might suggest.
