India calls ‘hell-hole’ remarks uninformed and in poor taste

India has said comments referring to Indians as part of a social media controversy involving US President Donald Trump are “obviously uninformed, inappropriate, and in poor taste”.

The response came hours after the US embassy issued a clarification following backlash over Trump sharing a derogatory post by radio host Michael Savage, which described India, China, and other countries as “hell-holes”.

Without naming Trump directly, the Ministry of External Affairs said the remarks do not reflect the reality of ties between the two countries. “They certainly do not reflect the reality of the India-US relationship, which has long been based on mutual respect and shared interests,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

Trump had shared what was described as a four-page transcript of the podcast along with the video, amplifying the controversial comments. Following the backlash, the US embassy issued a statement saying Trump considers India a “great” country led by a “good friend of mine at the top”.

The remarks drew criticism from the Hindu American Foundation, which said it was “deeply disturbed” by the post. The group warned that sharing such content could fuel hatred and endanger communities at a time when xenophobia and racism remain high. It urged Trump to delete the post and acknowledge the contributions of Asian Americans.

Priyanka Chaturvedi also reacted to the controversy, referring to the remarks during a public appearance and calling attention to their severity.

The episode has sparked diplomatic and political reactions, even as both sides signalled the importance of maintaining the broader India-US relationship.