Hours after US President Donald Trump’s aide Peter Navarro attacked India over Russian oil imports, his post on X was flagged with a fact-check. Billionaire Elon Musk defended the platform’s system, saying community notes “correct everyone without exception.”
Musk, however, did not name Navarro directly. He wrote, “On this platform, the people decide the narrative. You hear all sides of an argument. Community Notes corrects everyone, no exceptions. Notes, data, and code is public source. Grok provides further fact-checking.”
Navarro accused India of “profiteering” from Russian oil, claiming it was fueling Moscow’s war. X’s community notes countered his remarks, clarifying that India’s oil purchases are legal, aimed at energy security, and do not break sanctions. The notes also highlighted that the US itself continues importing Russian commodities like uranium, exposing “a clear double standard.”
Angered by the corrections, Navarro called the note “crap” and accused Musk of letting “propaganda” spread. This clash comes amid strained India-US ties, worsened after Trump imposed steep tariffs on Indian exports.
Despite rising friction, both Trump and PM Narendra Modi recently emphasized their nations share a “special relationship,” signaling efforts to repair ties.
