American singer, actress and cultural ambassador Mary Millben on Tuesday expressed concern over the recent remarks made by US President Donald Trump over Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
While sharing her views over Trump’s statement, Millben emphasised that the US President respects PM Modi but is “ill-advised” on India and that PM Modi need not pay interest to every remark he makes.
Speaking in defence for PM Modi, Millben said that the Indian Prime Minister is under no obligation to respond to every statement or criticism, whether from political opposition within India or from international leaders.
https://x.com/marymillben/status/2008315247049003443?s=48
Taking to X, Millben wrote, “I know @POTUS in his heart respects the PM, but sadly @POTUS is being ill-advised on his approach to India. I am praying for the President on this. Countering the remarks by the opposition in India, PM@narendramodi doesn’t need to respond to every comment or threat @POTUS makes. The only person or persons the PM needs to make happy are the Indian people. Period.”
Praising PM Modi’s leadership, Millben said, “The PM understands long game diplomacy. The PM equally doesn’t need to give any attention to characters like Senator Lindsey Graham. He’s irrelevant to many of us in the US.”
Millben also stated that many global leaders, including Prime Minister Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Chinese President Xi Jinping, are acutely aware of the political calendar in the United States, with the November midterm elections just months away.
She suggested that a potential shift in control of Congress could significantly alter the current geopolitical discourse.
Further, Millben expressed hope that the US administration would focus its attention on domestic priorities, particularly the upcoming midterm elections, and avoid creating unnecessary tensions with longstanding allies such as India.
“The truth? PM Modi, President Putin, President Xi, and many world leaders know they have 10 months until our November midterm election. And if the Democrats take control of Congress, which is likely given Republicans continually announcing their retirement from Congress, a whole new conversation will start in geopolitics. I hope @POTUS and the @WhiteHouseshift and focus on winning the midterm election and refrain from unnecessary tension with our friends, like India,” she wrote.
She concluded by affirming her confidence in Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, stating that he continues to act in the best interests of the Indian people.
“Carry on,@PMOIndia. You continue to serve in the best interest of India. That’s what you were elected to do,” she added.
This comes after Trump brought up his relationship with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the House Republicans’ Retreat being held at the Kennedy Center on Tuesday (local time).
In his speech, Trump said that Modi “is not happy with me” after Washington raised tariffs on Indian goods over its purchase of oil from Russia.
“I have a very good relationship with PM Modi, but he is not happy with me as India is paying high tariffs. But now they have reduced it very substantially, buying oil from Russia,” Trump said.
The US imposed on India an initial 25 per cent, and then an additional 25 per cent tariff due to Russian oil purchases, which Washington sees as helping run Russia’s war with Ukraine.
Trump made these remarks only a day after he issued a warning that further tariffs could be imposed if New Delhi does not address his concerns regarding Russian oil imports.
“They wanted to make me happy, basically. Modi is a very good man; he is a good guy. He knew I was not happy, and it was important to make me happy,” he said.
Trump also said that India has informed him that it has been waiting for the delivery of Apache helicopters for five years. “We’re changing it. India ordered 68 Apaches,” he said.
During his address, Trump also claimed that the US economy is benefitting from the tariffs he put on several countries around the world.
Trump’s comments come at a time when he has positioned himself as the mediator between Russia and Ukraine, having held talks with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
