US President Donald Trump has reposted a podcast by American radio host Michael Savage that referred to India, China, and other countries as “hell-holes”, drawing a restrained response from New Delhi.
The post, shared on Trump’s Truth Social platform, included a video and transcript from Savage’s show “Savage Nation”, in which he criticised birthright citizenship in the United States. Savage alleged that immigrants from India and China travel to the US late in pregnancy to secure citizenship for their children, claiming the system creates “instant” citizens who later bring extended family members into the country.
The commentary also described Indian and Chinese immigrants as “gangsters with laptops” and accused them of harming the US economy and workforce. Savage further argued that the US Constitution is outdated in the context of modern migration and called for a national referendum on birthright citizenship instead of leaving the issue to the courts.
Trump shared the content a day after stating in a CNBC interview that no other country offers birthright citizenship, a claim that is incorrect. Several countries, including Canada and Mexico, grant automatic citizenship to those born on their soil.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs responded cautiously. Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “We have seen some reports. That is where I leave it,” signalling an effort to avoid escalation.
The controversy comes as the US Supreme Court considers a legal challenge to Trump’s executive order aimed at restricting birthright citizenship. Legal consensus broadly holds that the 14th Amendment guarantees such citizenship, though the court’s ruling is awaited.
Trump has repeatedly argued for ending birthright citizenship, saying an adverse ruling would have financial consequences and affect the country’s “dignity”.