Navarro’s post claimed India’s purchases of Russian crude were fueling Moscow’s war in Ukraine, while also costing American jobs. X’s Community Notes corrected the statement, clarifying that India’s imports are legal, tied to energy security needs, and do not violate international sanctions. The note also highlighted what it called U.S. “hypocrisy,” pointing out that Washington continues to import billions of dollars in Russian commodities such as uranium.
Musk responded indirectly, saying X’s system applies to everyone equally. “On this platform, the people decide the narrative. You hear all sides of an argument. Community Notes corrects everyone, no exceptions,” he wrote, adding that all data and code are publicly available and that X’s AI assistant Grok provides additional fact-checking.
Navarro rejected the corrections, calling them “crap notes,” and accused Musk of allowing “propaganda” to circulate. He doubled down on his claim that India’s actions were “solely to profiteer” and even escalated by labeling India a “laundromat for the Kremlin.” His remarks follow weeks of sharp criticism of India after Trump imposed 50 percent tariffs on Indian exports, including a 25 percent surcharge tied to its Russian oil purchases.
The flare-up comes at a time of strained U.S.-India relations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, underscoring shifting alliances. Trump initially claimed the U.S. had “lost India to China,” but later softened his tone, insisting that ties remain “special” and affirming his friendship with Modi.
