In a striking display of double standards, US President Donald Trump on Tuesday claimed ignorance when confronted with a question about ongoing American imports of Russian fertilizers and chemicals, days after threatening punitive tariffs on India for its oil trade with Moscow.
“I don’t know anything about it,” Trump said in response to a journalist’s question about India’s allegation that the US continues to import Russian uranium hexafluoride, palladium, fertilizers, and chemicals while accusing others of supporting Russia’s war economy. “I’d have to check, but we’ll get back to you on that,” he added.
The statement came just 24 hours after Trump announced a 25 per cent tariff hike on Indian imports and threatened further economic penalties, citing India’s continued purchase of Russian oil. In a post on Truth Social, Trump alleged, “India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian oil, they are then, for much of the oil purchased, selling it on the open market for big profits. They don’t care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian war machine. Because of this, I will be substantially raising the tariff paid by India to the USA.”
India swiftly rejected the charges, with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issuing a strong rebuttal on Monday. The MEA clarified that India’s energy purchases were dictated by national interest and global market disruptions caused by the Ukraine conflict. “India began importing from Russia because traditional supplies were diverted to Europe after the outbreak of the conflict,” the statement read.
#WATCH | Responding to ANI's question on US imports of Russian Uranium, chemical fertilisers while criticising their (Indian) energy imports', US President Donald Trump says, "I don't know anything about it. I have to check…"
(Source: US Network Pool via Reuters) pic.twitter.com/OOejcaGz2t
— ANI (@ANI) August 5, 2025
The MEA further highlighted the ongoing trade between the West and Russia, asserting that both the US and the European Union have maintained substantial commercial ties with Moscow. This includes continued imports of Russian energy, fertilizers, mining products, chemicals, and machinery, despite publicly criticising India for similar actions.
India also pointed out that US imports of critical Russian materials, including uranium hexafluoride used in the American nuclear industry and palladium essential for electric vehicles, remain uninterrupted. These, alongside fertilizers and chemicals, directly contradict Washington’s rhetoric.
Trump’s “I don’t know” response has intensified the perception of hypocrisy in US foreign policy, especially in light of Washington’s selective targeting of countries like India while shielding its own strategic dependencies on Russian goods.
India maintains that its energy policy is designed to ensure predictable and affordable access for its citizens and rejects any suggestion that its purchases support aggression. The MEA’s statement reasserted that New Delhi’s decisions are driven by pragmatic needs, not geopolitical opportunism.
