Ro Khanna blames Trump for deep US-India trust crisis

Every Indian family saving for a US degree knows diplomacy is not only about flags. It also lives in a visa slot, an education loan, a job offer and a fuel bill.

That is why Ro Khanna, a US Congressman of Indian origin, chose a blunt frame in Washington. He said President Donald Trump has pushed US-India ties to their weakest point in 30 years.

Khanna’s charge matters because the relationship is no longer about diplomats alone. It touches students, tech workers, oil importers and defence planners. It also reaches parents who count dollars before signing loan papers.

Khanna puts trust at centre

Khanna made the remarks at the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum Leadership Summit in Washington. He did not dress up his criticism in soft language.

He argued that Trump’s policies have damaged a generation of trust between New Delhi and Washington. Khanna said India’s ambassador in China had told him this during a recent visit.

That line will sting in both capitals. For three decades, the US-India relationship has moved in one broad direction. It survived nuclear tensions, trade disputes and visa fights.

The reason was simple. Both sides believed the long-term bet still made sense. India needed technology, capital and strategic space. America needed a serious partner in Asia.

Khanna’s point is that trust does not vanish in one press conference. It erodes through repeated signals. Visa crackdowns, harsh words on immigrants and unpredictable foreign policy all add up.

Visas become the family worry

For many Indians, the first test of America is not the White House. It is the visa counter.

Khanna attacked Trump’s stand on immigration and student visas. He said America cannot talk about leading the future while pushing away the very people who build it.

That will sound familiar to thousands of Indian students. A US degree is not a casual purchase. Families often spend years planning it, comparing fees, exchange rates and loan terms.

When visa rules look hostile, the risk changes. Canada, Britain, Australia and Europe start looking more attractive. Not always better, but more predictable.

The same applies to skilled workers. A young engineer may still dream of Silicon Valley. But dreams become weaker when paperwork feels political.

This is where foreign policy enters the living room. A parent in Bengaluru or Jaipur does not track every speech in Washington. But they do notice when the visa mood turns cold.

Iran and oil hit home

Khanna also linked Trump’s Iran policy to fuel costs in India. He argued that conflict in the region hurts Indians through higher energy prices.

He even pointed listeners towards External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on the issue. The message was plain. Strategic choices abroad can raise costs at home.

India imports most of its crude oil. When West Asia turns tense, oil markets get nervous. That nervousness can show up later in petrol, diesel and transport costs.

For ordinary households, this is not theory. Costlier fuel pushes up the price of vegetables, school transport and daily commutes. It quietly eats into monthly budgets.

That is why India has always walked carefully in West Asia. New Delhi needs good ties with the US. It also needs energy stability and space to talk to Iran.

Khanna’s criticism fits that larger Indian worry. America may see Iran through a security lens. India also sees it through fuel bills and sea routes.

Talent is the real battleground

Khanna’s sharpest argument came on artificial intelligence. He said Trump talks about American leadership in AI, but does not grasp how talent actually moves.

He cited figures to make the point. Khanna said 38 percent of top AI researchers are of Chinese origin. He also said 72 percent have foreign degrees.

In simple terms, the best labs do not grow talent inside one border. They pull smart people from everywhere. That includes India, China and many other countries.

This is not new. America became powerful partly because it attracted ambitious outsiders. Indian doctors, engineers, founders and professors helped build that story.

Trump’s politics cuts against that old formula. If talented people feel unwanted, they will not stop being talented. They will simply build careers somewhere else.

India should watch this carefully. A colder America can hurt Indian students. But it can also push some talent back towards Indian startups, research labs and companies.

That opportunity will not appear by magic. India needs better universities, easier research funding and cities where skilled workers can build good lives.

Politics shadows the partnership

Khanna is a Democrat, and his attack clearly carries party politics. He called Trump a lame duck and predicted Democratic wins in the 2026 mid-terms and the 2028 presidential race.

So, yes, part of this is campaign language. Washington is already preparing for its next big political fight.

But it would be lazy to dismiss the whole warning as partisan noise. India has dealt with both Republicans and Democrats for years. The deeper issue is predictability.

New Delhi prefers steady power, even when it disagrees with that power. What unsettles India is sudden pressure, public threats and mixed signals.

The US-India relationship can absorb arguments. It cannot run only on photo-ops and summit dinners. It needs confidence that both sides mean what they say.

For ordinary Indians, the lesson is simple. A strong partnership must work at the airport counter, the petrol pump and the job market. If Washington wants India close, it cannot welcome Indian talent one week and suspect it the next.