‘Blood Money’: Peter Navarro’s Outburst At X Over India’s Russia Oil Purchase Fact-Check

Last Updated:September 08, 2025, 20:14 IST

India has rejected as “inaccurate and misleading” Navarro’s offensive comments on New Delhi for its procurement of Russian crude oil

Peter Navarro (Reuters Image)

White House Trade Advisor Peter Navarro, who is gaining traction for his offensive comments on India for its procurement of Russian crude oil, is now attacking  X after the social media platform cross-checked his “misleading” claims.

“More bullshit from X. Fact: India didn’t buy Russian oil in large quantities before Russia invaded Ukraine. It’s blood money and people are dying. Stick that up your keister Mother Jones and shame on you,” Navarro wrote on X.

Navarro’s bizarre remark that “Brahmins are profiteering” from India’s Russian oil purchase was also dismissed as “baseless” by the community notes of X.

Moreover, India has also rejected as “inaccurate and misleading” Navarro’s offensive comments on New Delhi for its procurement of Russian crude oil.

“We have seen the inaccurate and misleading statements made by Navarro, and obviously reject them,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

Last week, Navarro accused India of being an “oil money laundromat for the Kremlin” and described it as “strategic freeloading” for continuing to buy Russian weapons while urging American defence firms to transfer sensitive military technologies and set up manufacturing plants in India.

“If India, the world’s largest democracy, wants to be treated like a strategic partner of the US, it needs to act like one,” he said, in a series of social media posts attacking New Delhi.

The relations between New Delhi and Washington are on a downturn after President Donald Trump doubled tariffs on Indian goods to a whopping 50 per cent including a 25 per cent additional duties for India’s purchase of Russian crude oil.

The 25 per cent tariff has already come into effect and additional levies are due from August 27.

India described the US action as “unfair, unjustified and unreasonable” and even wondered why it has been singled out for the punitive action. Surprisingly, the US has not imposed any punitive measure on China, the largest importer of Russian crude oil.

Defending its purchase of Russian crude oil, India has been maintaining that its energy procurement is driven by national interest and market dynamics.

About the Author

Saurabh Verma

Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter –twitter.com/saurabhkverma19

Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter –twitter.com/saurabhkverma19

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