4 hours ago
Last Updated:October 17, 2025, 12:24 IST
Mary Millben slammed Rahul Gandhi for claiming that PM Modi is “frightened” of Donald Trump, calling his remarks baseless.
File photos of Mary Millben/Rahul Gandhi (PTI)
US singer Mary Millben on Friday slammed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s claim that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is “frightened" of US President Donald Trump.
Her criticism of the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha came a day after Rahul Gandhi had claimed that PM Modi allowed Trump to “decide and announce" that India would not buy Russian oil, continued sending congratulatory messages despite repeated snubs, cancelled the Finance Minister’s visit to the US, skipped Sharm el-Sheikh, and did not contradict Trump on ‘Operation Sindoor’.
In an X post, Millben wrote, “You are wrong, Rahul Gandhi. PM Narendra Modi is not afraid of President Trump."
“PM Modi understands the long game and his diplomacy with the U.S. is strategic. Just as Trump will always put America’s interests first, so will PM Modi do what is best for India. And I applaud that," she mentioned.
“That’s what Heads of State do. They do and say what is best for their country. I don’t expect you to understand this type of leadership because you don’t possess the acumen to be PM of India. Best to return to your ‘I hate India’ tour that has an audience of one – you," (sic), her X post read.
Gandhi’s assertion on Thursday came after Trump claimed that his “friend" PM Modi has assured him that India would stop purchasing oil from Russia, a move he described as a big step toward increasing pressure on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh also criticised the government, highlighting that the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was the first to announce that India had halted ‘Operation Sindoor’, and that Trump had repeatedly claimed India acted under his pressure.
Speaking to reporters at his Oval Office on Wednesday, Trump had said the US was not happy that India was buying Russian crude, arguing such purchases helped finance President Vladimir Putin’s war.
“He (Modi) is a friend of mine, we have a great relationship… we were not happy with him buying oil from Russia because that let Russia continue on with this ridiculous war where they’ve lost a million and a half people," Trump said in response to a question.
“I was not happy that India was buying oil, and (Modi) assured me today that they will not be buying oil from Russia. That’s a big step. Now we’ve got to get China to do the same thing," he said.
India is the second-largest buyer of Russian fossil fuels behind China, according to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA).
Western sanctions and reduced European demand made Russian oil available at steep discounts. As a result, India’s Russian crude imports surged from under 1 per cent to nearly 40 per cent of its total crude oil imports in a short span.
New Delhi has been maintaining that its oil imports are driven by national energy security and affordability concerns and that its position on the Russia-Ukraine conflict remains independent and balanced.
Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.
Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.
First Published:
October 17, 2025, 12:24 IST
News world 'Return To Your Hate India Tour': US Singer Slams Rahul Gandhi Over Remark Against PM Modi
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Read More
