X factchecks Peter Navarros rant over Indias oil import from Russia. He then slams Musk
The platform also pointed out America’s “double standard” in continuing trade with Russia while pressuring India.
PTC News Desk: US President Donald Trump’s aide Peter Navarro has launched a scathing attack on Elon Musk after X flagged his post accusing India of profiteering from Russian oil imports. Navarro, the White House trade adviser, has repeatedly criticized New Delhi for its energy purchases from Moscow, claiming India buys Russian oil “purely for profit” and to support Russia’s war in Ukraine. He also noted that the US itself still imports uranium and minerals from Russia, calling it hypocritical.
X fact-checked his post, clarifying that India’s oil imports are driven by energy security needs, do not breach sanctions, and fall under its sovereign rights. The platform also pointed out America’s “double standard” in continuing trade with Russia while pressuring India.
In a post on X, Navarro declared: "FACTS: India highest tariffs costs US jobs. India buys Russian oil purely to profit/Revenues feed Russia war machine. Ukrainians/Russians die. US taxpayers shell out more. India can't handle truth/spins."
Hours later, Musk's platform intervened with a community note titled "Readers added context they thought people might want to know," pointing out that India's Russian oil purchases were for "energy security" and did not violate sanctions.
Furious at being fact-checked, Navarro then turned his fire on Musk. "Wow. Elon Musk is letting propaganda into people's posts. That crap note below is just that. Crap. India buys Russia oil solely to profiteer. It didn't buy any before Russia invaded Ukraine. Indian government spin machine moving high tilt. Stop killing Ukrainians. Stop taking American jobs," he wrote.
The dispute comes amid Navarro’s continued attacks since Trump imposed an extra 25% duty on Indian goods, raising overall tariffs to 50% from August 27, citing India’s Russian oil imports as justification.
Navarro has previously labeled India the “Maharaja of tariffs,” a “Kremlin laundromat,” and even called the Ukraine war “Modi’s war.” In one of his most controversial comments, he accused “Brahmins of profiteering at the expense of Indians,” a remark New Delhi dismissed as false and unacceptable. “We reject such inaccurate statements,” said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on Friday.
The spat also follows a brief phase of political alignment between Trump and Musk during the 2024 election campaign, when the Tesla CEO headed Trump’s DOGE initiative in his administration.