Former Trump advisor Peter Navarro’s criticisms of India regarding its oil purchases from Russia were met with scrutiny on the social media platform X. Users engaged in fact-checking, and community notes were added to Navarro’s posts to challenge his claims. This prompted a negative response from Navarro, who then directed his criticism toward Elon Musk.
Navarro’s initial post accused India of profiting from Russian oil purchases, thereby supporting the Russian war effort. The community notes clarified that India’s oil trade serves not only to generate profits but also to ensure its energy security. The notes also highlighted that India’s oil purchases do not breach any international sanctions. Furthermore, it noted that the U.S. also purchases some items from Russia, implying a double standard in the criticism of India.
Navarro responded by labeling the note as ‘nonsense’ and accusing Elon Musk of promoting inaccurate information on the platform. Navarro’s post claimed that India’s high tariffs hurt U.S. jobs, that India purchased Russian oil for profit, funding the Russian war, and that American taxpayers would have to pay more as a result. He also mentioned The Washington Post and their coverage of strained diplomatic relations between the U.S. and India, with Navarro having previously used harsh terms to describe India’s actions, like ‘tariff king’, ‘Russia’s money laundering machine,’ and critiquing ‘Modi’s war in Ukraine’.