'Not a good ally to US': Amid US-India trade talks, Nalin Haley’s anti-India post on X sparks backlash

Nalin Haley’s post reignites US-India debate

Nalin Haley, son of former US ambassador Nikki Haley, has stirred controversy with a social media post claiming India is not a reliable ally of the United States, accusing New Delhi of exporting cheap labour to America while buying oil from Iran and weapons from Russia.

He argued that India has a “cheap government” and said the issue went beyond New Delhi, adding that Washington needed to reassess its relationships with several so-called allies.

In a post on X, Haley wrote: “India has not been a good ‘ally’ to America. They send cheap labor to the US, buy cheap oil from Iran, and cheap weapons from Russia because they have a cheap government. And it’s not just India. The United States needs to reevaluate their relationship with a lot of ‘allies’.”

India has not been a good "ally" to America. They send cheap labor to the US, buy cheap oil from Iran, and cheap weapons from Russia because they have a cheap government.And it’s not just India. The United States needs to reevaluate their relationship with a lot of "allies" https://t.co/Zf87aYiRYS

— Nalin Haley (@Nalin_Haley) January 30, 2026

His remarks come at a time when India and the United States are nearing a trade agreement after months of negotiations.

Link to resurfaced Ramaswamy clip

Haley’s comments were made in response to an old video of Vivek Ramaswamy from 2023. In the clip, Ramaswamy backed decoupling the United States from China while expanding ties with India, saying he supported the position not because of his Indian heritage.

The video resurfaced as sections of the MAGA base targeted Ramaswamy over his bid for governor of Ohio. Haley, a vocal critic of Ramaswamy, has repeatedly spoken out against his policies.

Social media pushback

Haley’s post drew sharp reactions online. One user wrote: “Have you completely lost your mind in your hatred for Vivek? Your own mother, Nikki Haley, said the exact same thing you’re now attacking him for.”

Another commented: “I know book learning isn’t big in the South, but India has never claimed to be an ally of the US, just a neutral country.”

A third user said: “This person has no idea about geopolitics but keeps repeating Groyper talking points. India is never an ally to anyone. Its foreign policy does not allow that. It is only a partner with other countries. The US State Department fully understands that.”