Peter Navarro was fact-checked by a community of X users, who pointed out that India’s oil trade with Russia was “for energy security, not just profit”.
White House advisor Peter Navarro had a meltdown on Sunday after one of his posts targeting India’s Russian oil purchases was flagged with a community note on X.
As usual, Navarro accused India of trading with Russia “purely to profit/Revenues feed Russia war machine.” But this time, X users fact-checked him, pointing out that India’s oil imports were largely “for energy security, not just profit,” and that they did not violate sanctions.
The note further highlighted that while India imposes some tariffs, the US actually runs a trade surplus with India in services, and continues to import certain commodities from Russia itself — calling Navarro’s stance hypocritical.
Fuming at the pushback, Navarro dismissed the note as “crap” and lashed out at Elon Musk for “letting propaganda into people’s posts.” He doubled down on his accusations, claiming India only began buying Russian oil after the Ukraine invasion and was “solely profiteering.”
“That crap note below is just that. Crap. India buys Russia oil solely to profiteer. It didn’t buy any before Russia invaded Ukraine. Indian govt spin machine moving high tilt. Stop killing Ukrainians. Stop taking American jobs,” Navarro wrote.
Wow. @elonmusk is letting propaganda into people’s posts. That crap note below is just that. Crap. India buys Russia oil solely to profiteer. It didn’t buy any before Russia invaded Ukraine. Indian govt spin machine moving high tilt. Stop killing Ukranians. Stop taking… https://t.co/Uj1NMUrVOM
— Peter Navarro (@RealPNavarro) September 6, 2025
Navarro’s criticism of India
Peter Navarro’s flagged post was the latest in a series of such allegations he has made against India over Russian oil trade, ever since US President’s announcement of 50% tariffs on Indian imports.
“FACTS: India highest tariffs costs U.S. jobs. India buys Russian oil purely to profit/Revenues feed Russia war machine. Ukrainians/Russians die. U.S. taxpayers shell out more. India can’t handle truth/spins @washpo Leftist American fake news,” Navarro’s latest post read.
He was referring to a news piece by The Washington Post, which said that the kind of language being used for India from Washington was worsening diplomatic ties.
Before this, Navarro has used terms like ‘Maharaja of tariffs’, ‘laundromat for the Kremlin’, ‘Modi’s war in Ukraine’, and more, to target India.