Asaduddin Owaisi hits out at 'buffoon-in-chief' Trump after tariff announcement: 'Sad to see govt being bullied'

Asaduddin Owaisi

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Thursday spoke out strongly against US President Donald Trump's announcement of 25% tariffs on India, saying that it is sad that the Indian government is being "bullied by a buffoon-in-chief in the White House".

In a post on X, Owaisi said that the measures announced by Trump are a "clear and deliberate attack" on India's sovereignty and economic standing.

"I’ve raised the issue of rising hostile trade practices against India in Parliament for years," he said.

The reaction comes a day after Trump announced that US will impose 25% tariffs on India plus penalty due to its import of Russian military equipment and energy.

"It’s sad to see my country’s government being bullied by a buffoon-in-chief in the White House. This tariff will come with a vague “penalty” for trading with Russia. India is independent sovereign country. Not a vassal state that gives salami in the Emperor’s court," Owaisi said, reacting to the announcement.

Trump has announced that Indian exports will now come with a 25% tariff. It’s sad to see my country’s government being bullied by a buffoon-in-chief in the White House. This tariff will come with a vague “penalty” for trading with Russia. India is independent sovereign country.…

— Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) July 31, 2025

The AIMIM chief noted that the tariffs will hit Indian MSMEs, manufacturers, IT firms, service providers and farmers. "They’ll deter FDI, damage exports, and hurt jobs. While Japan will pay 15%, Vietnam will pay 20% and Indonesia has a tariff of 19%. This will hit India’s competitive advantage for US exports."

He also took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, questioning his "silence".

"Is this the “56-inch chest” we were promised? Or will we only see it if Trump raises tariffs to 56%?" Owaisi asked.

President Trump announced a sweeping 25% tariff on all Indian exports to US effective August 1, 2025, accompanied by an additional, as-yet-unspecified penalty tied to India's ongoing purchases of Russian oil and military hardware.

Trump cited India's "strenuous and obnoxious" trade barriers and high tariffs as justification, insisting that US businesses have long faced unequal terms in India and calling the country "among the highest tariff abusers in the world".

Later in the day, Trump hit out at both India and Russia, saying he doesn’t care what they do and New Delhi and Moscow can take their “dead economies down together”.

“I don’t care what India does with Russia. They can take their dead economies down together, for all I care,” he said in a post on Truth Social.