Iran has taken a dig at US President Donald Trump after he shared a social media post describing India and China as “hellholes” while advocating changes to America’s birthright citizenship laws. The Consulate General of Iran in Mumbai posted a video on X showcasing Maharashtra’s rich cultural and geographical diversity. It suggested that a visit to the state could act as a “cultural detox” for the US leader. The move quickly drew attention online, sparking debate and reactions from users who criticised the remarks and defended India’s global standing.
“Maybe someone should book a one-way cultural detox for Mr Trump, it might just reduce the random bakwaas,” the consulate said in a sharp post. It also added in Hindi, “Kabhi India aa ke dekho, phir bolna,” urging him to visit India before making such comments. The video's caption also highlighted both sides of Maharashtra. The statement blended sarcasm with cultural pride, reflecting disapproval of Trump’s remarks. The post gained traction across social media platforms, with many users echoing the sentiment and highlighting India’s diversity, heritage, and economic growth as a counter to the controversial description used in the original post shared online.
The controversy began after Trump reposted content by American commentator Michael Savage, who referred to India, China, and other countries as “hellholes.” In his remarks, Savage criticised the United States’ birthright citizenship policy, alleging that people from these nations travel to the US late in pregnancy to secure citizenship for their children. He further used derogatory language, calling Indian and Chinese immigrants “gangsters with laptops.” Trump’s decision to share the post was widely perceived as an endorsement of these views, intensifying backlash from various quarters globally.
India strongly condemned the remarks, calling them “uninformed, inappropriate, and in poor taste.” Without directly naming Trump, the Ministry of External Affairs stated that such comments do not reflect the reality of India-US relations, which are based on mutual respect and shared interests. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal emphasised that the statements were inconsistent with the strong and evolving partnership between the two nations, reiterating India’s firm stance against remarks that undermine its image on the global stage and diplomatic ties.
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In an apparent effort to contain the fallout, the US Embassy issued a clarification stating that Trump considers India a “great” country. Embassy spokesperson Christopher Elms said the former president had spoken warmly about India and highlighted his personal rapport with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The statement aimed to reassure that despite the controversy, diplomatic relations remain stable, with both nations continuing to share strategic, economic, and political interests built over years of cooperation and mutual engagement.