Trump aide Peter Navarro renews attack on Delhi, questions why Americans are ‘paying for AI in India’

White House Trade Advisor Peter Navarro has renewed his criticism of India, questioning why Americans in India are paying for artificial intelligence.

Mr Navarro’s comments on Saturday (Jan 17, 2026) came amid a strain in India-US relations, which began after US President Donald Trump imposed a 50% tariff on New Delhi, including an additional 25% levy on purchases of Russian crude.

In an interview on Real American voicesaid Mr. Navarro: “It’s like, why are Americans paying for AI in India? Chat GPT (is) operating on U.S. soil, using U.S. electricity and serving large users of Chat GPT, for example in India and China and elsewhere in the world. So that’s another issue that needs to be addressed.”

His comments came as ties between New Delhi and Washington are under strain over several other issues apart from the tariffs, including Mr Trump’s claim that the conflict between India and Pakistan would end in May last year and Washington’s new immigration policy.

Last year, Mr. Navarro consistently railed against India over Delhi’s purchases of Russian oil and high tariffs, calling India the “maharaja of tariffs.”

He also termed India’s purchases of Russian oil as ‘blood money’ and said Delhi was not buying oil from Moscow in large quantities before the conflict in Ukraine.

New Delhi has maintained that, like any major economy, it will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security.

In a tirade targeting the BRICS countries, Mr Navarro had said the “bottom line” is that none of the countries in the grouping “can survive if they don’t sell to the United States.” And when they sell their exports to the United States, they are like vampires, sucking our blood with their unfair trade practices.”