PM Modi didn’t consider Trump Nobel-worthy, US senator reveals why India was slapped with 50% tariff

Washington: According to Democratic Senator Mark Warner, the US imposed a 50 percent tariff on India because Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not nominate President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize. He claimed that Trump makes economic decisions based on personal interests rather than policy decisions.

Last year, the president first imposed a 25 percent tariff, then added another 25 percent due to India’s purchase of Russian oil. This has left New Delhi facing some of the highest tariffs in the world, along with Brazil.

Trump claimed that the oil India bought from Russia indirectly financed the war in Ukraine. Speaking at a community event with the Ahmadi Muslim community in Virginia, Warner said the main reason for the 50 percent tariff was his displeasure with Trump not supporting Modi’s Nobel candidacy. He emphasized that economic policy should not be based on personal grievances.

Warner represents Virginia in the U.S. Senate and serves as chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee. He had previously questioned Trump’s claims regarding India-Pakistan ceasefire efforts.

Based on discussions with U.S. intelligence and committee members, Indian officials said the issue between India and Pakistan was largely resolved by the countries themselves. After Operation Sindoor in May 2025, the US president claimed that he had prevented a war between the two countries.

Warner, a long-time advocate of strong India-US relations, has repeatedly warned that key security systems such as the Quad and “2+2” dialogues are losing momentum.

In an interview with IANS in January 2026, he had highlighted concerns that Washington’s lack of consistent engagement could affect how partner countries perceive US credibility.

He expressed his discomfort with comments suggesting that China could be seen as a more reliable partner than the United States. He said such views are extremely disturbing for global strategic stability.