India Slams Trump Remarks on Citizenship and Immigrants as ‘Inappropriate and in Poor Taste’
MEA says comments do not reflect India–U.S. ties; advocacy groups warn of impact on Asian American communities
NEW DELHI, April 23 — India has strongly criticized recent remarks by Donald Trump on birthright citizenship and immigrants, calling them “uninformed, inappropriate and in poor taste.”
Responding to the comments, Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, said the statements do not reflect the nature of bilateral relations between the two countries.
“We have seen the comments, as well as the subsequent statement issued by the U.S. Embassy,” Jaiswal said. “The remarks are obviously uninformed, inappropriate and in poor taste. They certainly do not reflect the reality of the India–U.S. relationship, which has long been based on mutual respect and shared interests.”
The reaction follows a social media post in which Trump criticized birthright citizenship and made sweeping claims about immigration and demographics, including references to India and China in derogatory terms.
The remarks have drawn criticism from Indian American organizations and political leaders in the United States, who warned that such rhetoric could contribute to rising xenophobia and discrimination.
The Hindu American Foundation said it was “deeply disturbed” by the content of the post, describing it as “hateful” and cautioning that such statements could endanger communities.
“Endorsing such rhetoric at the highest level will further stoke hatred at a time when xenophobia and racism are already elevated,” the organization said in a statement.
The controversy comes amid broader debates in the United States over immigration policy, citizenship, and national identity. Observers note that comments targeting specific ethnic groups have raised concerns among advocacy groups about their potential impact on social cohesion and public discourse.
Despite the criticism, officials emphasized that the broader relationship between India and United States remains strong, with cooperation continuing across strategic, economic, and diplomatic areas. (Source: IANS)
