From Friendship to Friction: What Happened to Howdy Modi?:-
There was a time when Narendra Modi and Donald Trump used to praise each other on platforms like Howdy Modi and Namaste Trump. Modi used to call Trump his true friend and Don Trump used to call Narendra Modi a great leader and a tough negotiator. There were also similarities connecting these two. Both hard core nationalists with strong leadership and putting the country first. But are those same similarities increasing the distance between these two today ? Are Narendra Modi and Donald Trump now slowly moving towards enmity?
Cracks Begin with H-1B, Trade, and Credit Tussles:-
First on H1B visa and then on trade duty, Trump’s statement that India charges too much tax. Then there’s the credit war on India Pakistan war and now the Apple segment. People are saying brother, when two friends become enemies, the enmity is of a very deep color. But why is all this happening? And why is it happening today? Because these incidents are showing that Donald Trump’s attitude towards India is changing. But today when Donald Trump told Apple CEO Tim Cook not to build a factory in India. India can take care of itself. So the world realized that this was not just business advice but a political and strategic message. But the question is that Don Trump who was calling Narendra Modi his best well-wisher and friend. Why did he suddenly start getting so upset with Modi or India? Is the reason behind this America not getting credit for the India-Pakistan war, Donald Trump being embarrassed, his ego being hurt or India taking its own decision now, what is bothering Trump so much ? And why is Trump changing so much ? And if Trump is changing, America is changing, then how will India deal with it?
The Apple Bombshell: A Political Message in Disguise:-
Now the biggest problem that Donald Trump is facing at present is that Donald Trump feels that he wanted the Nobel Peace Prize and Donald Trump was trying for it. Even last time when Trump came, he even went to North Korea. Thinking that we will get North Korea included in the world. The message of friendship between America and North Korea will go. The first President who landed on their land and got the Noble Peace but did not get it. This time felt that even if not North Korea, India Pakistan is fine. But he had gone to become Choubey ji, but could not even become Dubey.
Ceasefire Failure and Modi’s Tough Stand:-
How? On May 10, 2025, Donald Trump announced with great fanfare that yes, we have got the ceasefire done. Even after that, Donald Trump has said four times in four days that have stopped India-Pakistan.And after this, Donald Trump’s diplomacy was ruined in such a way that his team sank into the ground with shame. They are unable to understand what to say about this ceasefire brokered by Don Trump which also turned into the most flop and shameful spectacle in the history. TikTok People had called it a ceasefire because as soon as Donald Trump made the announcement, shelling started from Pakistan. India also started firing. Omar Abdullah said, brother what kind of ceasefire is this? But India said that the Kashmir which is an issue for you is our internal matter and even friends do not interfere in internal matters. If there is any talk, it will be on PoK. It will be on the money they are giving to Pakistan. It will be on terrorism. Now the question is, did these things harm Donald Trump’s image? Did you hurt his ego ?
Apple’s Shift to India: An Economic Threat to Trump’s Vision:-
You must understand that by joining hands with North Korea’s Kim Jong, he was on his way to become a global peace leader. I thought I would win the Nobel Prize. When stuck there, he started telling the story of peace between India and Pakistan. But he did not stay anywhere. Apart from this, Don Trump presents himself as the most dominating leader internationally. This is his last tenure. And Donald Trump probably wants that all the discussions during this tenure should be about Donald Trump but when India’s stand remained strong, then in the India-Pakistan war the discussions were about Modi ji that brother he killed people with great force. Did Donald Trump feel offended by all these things ? This is a matter of personal ego.
Tim Cook had actually said that 50% of the iPhones sold in the US today are being manufactured in India. Now this is a proud movement for India. But for Donald Trump the Tingtong threat was decreasing. Trump might be worried that if the CEO of Apple is saying this, then the attitude of the world’s big brands will also change and if everyone turns towards India, will it affect America? Because this time, ever since Donald Trump has returned, he has been lot about America First. In such a situation, an American icon company which was once dependent on China. Now it is making India a manufacturing hub. Is this something to be worried about? Is it bothering them when Make in India is making its mark against Make in America?
Rise of India: Strategic Independence vs American Influence:-
What could be bothersome ? Now Apple’s investment in India is strengthening the Indian economy. It is also giving a message to the people globally. In such a situation, Donald Trump’s America First policy can trouble it. There is a story. However India is not weak because India has a very large population. The same population that at times appears to be a weakness. Sometimes it becomes a strength. The market is very big. How many people like us are there in India today who are using iPhone? Now if Donald Trump makes any fuss regarding Apple then Indian Government can also take action. Can ban Apple. Can tighten rules and increase tariffs. America could also suffer losses. So in such a situation it does not seem that something will happen recently. But this statement given by Donald Trump is not actually only about Apple. This is for big international companies to give priority to America before investing in India. And this is where the question arises whether Donald Trump is now India’s friend or has become an enemy. Regarding both incidents. Be it the incident of India Pakistan war or what he did with Apple. Look, Donald Trump thinks about his own interests.
There is nothing wrong in that. But when India thinks about its own interests, Donald Trump feels bad. He takes things on his ego. He wants India to tell him that he is a big man. Like Pakistan keeps touching feet and saying Namaste to the master. Leave in the morning Good morning sir. In the evening touch your feet and say Namaste to your master. India is not saying this. And this is why Trump was insulted. He considered Narendra Modi as his friend. He said in his boastfulness that he made the announcement before the announcement was made by the Prime Minister of India. But what happened after this was disturbing. However, many people also feel that Donald Trump took advantage of Modi’s friendship. Because if America had not interfered in Operation Sindoor, India would have attacked and troubled Pakistan even more. And if India had taken Operation Sindoor to its final execution, Narendra Modi would have been established as the most powerful leader of this century. You people must have also raised questions about Narendra Modi when the ceasefire happened because India was shocked as to why this ceasefire happened? We were on the edge. And this is where many believe that Donald Trump tried to stop Modi from becoming larger than life by jumping in and ordering a ceasefire. In haste, he tried to snatch the credit from Modi by making the announcement by beating the drum himself. However, Modi ji’s fate is written by God with a different pen.
The Weapon Dilemma: F-16 vs India’s Military Power:-
After that Pakistan started using ammunition. India got the chance to say why the ceasefire. Donald Trump is saying, look, if he fires a bullet, we will fire a shell and after that India again gave a statement that the war is not over. Kashmir will about POK and then Donald Trump was made fun of. But all these things were troubling Donald Trump. But the question is that Donald Trump has made a beginning. Donald Trump took unfair advantage of our friendship. There is another incident about which Donald Trump may be angry.
Most of the weapons India has are purchased from Russia and the F16 used by Pakistan is an American weapon. Even after the Balakot strike in 2019, the Air Force had shot down Pakistan’s American F16. And this time too the claim is being made that a Pakistani pilot has been killed. The person whose funeral Shabaz Sharif attended was in F16. So he has one F16 and Idam Gayatridam Namam. Now the F16 has been a symbol of America’s superiority. And when the news of its destruction comes, and last time it was destroyed by our light ships, then it becomes a cause of embarrassment for Pakistan and America. In 2019, for the first time, F16 had to face public humiliation. And there is a story this time too because the F16 is not just a fighter jet for the US and this was not a defeat of the fighter jet. This was a question mark on the credibility of America’s weapons. For example, when the news about S400 came, the stocks of companies in Russia selling war material weapons started falling. Later Modi Ji went there and showed that S400 is alive and asked Pakistan, if you will also come then the balance will be fine. Similarly F16 is the pride of America. This was a direct blow to Trump’s defense lobby and from here perhaps America got touched further. Because India is now making its own weapons also. So is Trump looking at India as China ?
Fear of Another China? Trump’s Real
About China, started becoming independent a few years ago. Now do they feel that because Donald Trump has said that India can take care of itself. There has been acknowledgement of India’s rapidly growing global status. The world is also scared of him. America is seeing that after China, India is growing the fastest. When Donald Trump said don’t build in India, it was not just an economic concern. There was this fear also. There was a fear that India was also not doing the same thing that China was doing. Like becoming a global manufacturing hub, being independent in technology, being independent in international diplomacy , India is not a country that will follow America’s orders. India is following an independent policy.
America’s Double Standards: Friendship or Favor Trading?:-
And this is also troubling America. That is why Donald Trump hinted that India can take care of itself. This is a very deep matter. Think about it, because when anybody moves ahead, the first ones to feel bad are his relatives and Don Trump is one such relative. As long as you stay with them uncle will say namaste yes son be happy we will take care of you. But when the boy himself is growing up then Donald Trump will say that tomorrow when he grows up he will sit equal to us. It does n’t feel good. Now the question is that if India is moving ahead in this way, then what will India have to do now ? Because Don Trump is not going to agree. America is a hypocrite. Yes, he is a hypocrite. Recently, Donald Trump had visited Qatar in 2017 and was calling it a funder of terrorism.
Defense, Diplomacy, and Decoupling from Dependency:-
And this time he bought a private jet worth Rs 400 million. Loyal friend is saying this. The Syrian leader who was being called a terrorist was being called a young attractive guy by Don Trump with a strong past. In our country this is called taking bribe. In America it is called friendship diplomacy. This plane that Donald Trump has received is a bribe. If explained in simple words then it is not given in any other friendship. Bribe has been given so that their work gets done and Don Trump’s agenda is slowly changing accordingly. Now, they don’t have that bitterness or strictness towards Muslim countries. But this is their own stand on America, what do we have to do with it ? Our point is what is the problem with Donald Trump? So one problem is that at present, Rise of India, India is strengthening its defense. There is direct competition in the tech market. The policies in India are being made keeping India in mind. Donald Trump does not want any further discussion. This is his last term.
Modi’s Silent Assertiveness vs Trump’s Loud Diplomacy:-
Modi ji will come next time also. It is possible that he may not come. It’s possible he may come. But Donald Trump will not be able to come even if he wants to. In America a person can become President only twice. In such circumstances, they have problems. It could be a problem of the country, it could be a problem of ego, it could also be a problem of strategic insecurity. And this is now visible openly. Elections are also going to be held in America. We have to maintain the majority of our party in 2026. He has talked about jobs. America being a superpower, America first, all these things have been Donald Trump’s. Now the question is what does India want? Because Trump is complex towards India. He has his own calculations. What can India do? Look, India is facing difficulties. That’s why when Kangana Ranaut tweeted, Nadda ji got it removed. This is because India does not want to fight directly with America. But there is also an opportunity for India. If leaders like Trump are advising companies to stay away from India, then India should also be independent. If Don Trump is telling Apple not to invest, then India can also impose strict rules on brands like Amazon, Google, Facebook, Apple.
Final Take: Opportunity in Disguise for India:-
This will only trouble them. We will have to strengthen ourselves further in defence. Semiconductors need to be made. The 5G network will have to be made stronger. Indigenous weapons must be made. We will have to reduce our dependency on America. Now the time has come for India to make policies. Make global alliances so that we do n’t have to be dependent on any leader like Trump or Biden. India should become not just a partner but a policy maker. Self-reliant India, which we call Vasudev Kutumbakam, should further propagate the image and emerge as a major force in the global psyche. The rest of the opposition to Trump is largely personal. He is full of ego. It is in the form of economic competition. A feeling of insecurity is visible. India is thinking long term. America is also thinking America First. We are also thinking India First. So overall this is a new opportunity for India. Let this disaster be turned into an opportunity and it is time for India to emerge not only as a partner but, as we said, as a policy maker and a major global power. If we understand and adopt this power with confidence, good days will definitely come.