From ‘hellhole’ to ‘great country’: How US scrambled to douse fire from Trump’s racist post

Apr 24, 2026 | 17:13 IST

Illustration: AI

New Delhi called the remarks “uninformed, inappropriate and in poor taste” after the US president endorsed an anti-India statement by American radio host Michael Savage, a move that has also triggered widespread backlash among Indian-Americans

India was drawn into an unexpected geopolitical crosscurrent on April 23 after US President Donald Trump amplified a deeply controversial message on birthright citizenship — one that reignited a polarising debate within the US and triggered sharp international reactions.

The controversy began when Trump endorsed a racist post that referred to India and China as “hellholes”. Iran responded by describing the two countries as “cradles of civilisation”.

TOI

TOI

From ‘hellhole’ to ‘great country’: How US scrambled to douse fire from Trump’s racist post

New Delhi called the remarks “uninformed, inappropriate and in poor taste” after the US president endorsed an anti-India statement by American radio host Michael Savage, a move that has also triggered widespread backlash among Indian-Americans

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TOI

From ‘hellhole’ to ‘great country’: How US scrambled to douse fire from Trump’s racist post

New Delhi called the remarks “uninformed, inappropriate and in poor taste” after the US president endorsed an anti-India statement by American radio host Michael Savage, a move that has also triggered widespread backlash among Indian-Americans

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