Trump's Frustration: US Expert Reveals President Felt 'Cheated' by India Over Ceasefire & Tariffs

A prominent US expert has unveiled a startling perspective on Donald Trump's view of India, revealing that the former President harboured a strong sense of being 'cheated' by New Delhi. This sentiment reportedly stemmed from an unfulfilled 'ceasefire claim' and perceived unfairness regarding tariffs, painting a complex picture of bilateral relations.

Ashley Tellis, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, shed light on Trump's deeply held conviction that India had not reciprocated his gestures and had, in fact, 'misled' him on significant fronts.

This revelation suggests a transactional approach to foreign policy that, in Trump's eyes, was not met with mutual advantage from the Indian side.

The 'ceasefire claim' likely refers to Trump's offer to mediate on the Kashmir issue, an overture swiftly rejected by India, which maintains that Kashmir is a bilateral matter.

Trump's perception of being 'cheated' on this front indicates his expectation of a different outcome or greater engagement from India following his public statements.

Furthermore, Tellis pointed to Trump's vexation over India's '50 percent tariffs' on certain American goods. While the specific tariffs often cited relate to iconic items like Harley-Davidson motorcycles, Trump consistently voiced his belief that these duties were disproportionate and unfair, especially when compared to US tariffs on Indian products.

This trade imbalance, as he perceived it, fuelled his feeling that India was taking advantage of the US.

According to Tellis, Trump's grievance was rooted in his conviction that he had extended goodwill gestures and diplomatic overtures to India, only to see them unreciprocated or, worse, met with actions he deemed uncooperative.

This breakdown of trust, from the former President's perspective, could have profound implications for future US-India relations, particularly if he were to return to office.

The expert warned that such a deeply ingrained sense of disillusionment could prompt a future Trump administration to adopt a far more punitive stance on trade with India.

This might involve levying more aggressive tariffs or imposing other economic pressures, transforming the existing trade dialogue into a more contentious and challenging landscape for New Delhi.

This insight into Trump's mindset underscores the highly personal and transactional nature of his foreign policy approach.

His belief that India 'took advantage' of him highlights the importance of perceived reciprocity in his diplomatic engagements, a factor that could shape the trajectory of one of the world's most critical strategic partnerships.