NYT Bombshell: Modi Refused Trump’s Nobel Dream, US Retaliated with 50% Tariffs

NYT Bombshell: Modi Refused Trump’s Nobel Dream, US Retaliated with 50% Tariffs

NYT Bombshell: Modi Refused Trump’s Nobel Dream, US Retaliated with 50% Tariffs

Ties between India and the United States have taken a sharp downturn, and a New York Times report claims the trouble began with an unusual request from former US President Donald Trump. According to the report, Prime Minister Narendra Modi refused to support Trump’s push for a Nobel Peace Prize — a move that allegedly led to Washington slapping steep tariffs on Indian goods.

Once “Howdy Modi” Friends, Now Silent

Not long ago, Modi and Trump shared a warm stage presence at the “Howdy Modi” and “Namaste Trump” rallies. But relations have soured dramatically. The two leaders have not spoken since a tense phone call in June, according to the NYT.

Trump’s Ceasefire Claim

The rift began when Trump repeatedly claimed credit for “brokering” a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, despite New Delhi’s insistence that he had no role in the matter. He first made the announcement on Truth Social, even before India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri had briefed the public. His statements frustrated Indian officials, who called them misleading and unhelpful.

The Nobel Peace Prize Push

Things got worse during a June 17 call. The NYT reports that Trump told Modi he had mediated the India-Pakistan conflict and suggested India nominate him for the Nobel Peace Prize. He even claimed Pakistan would back his nomination too. This, the report says, was the breaking point for Modi, who had already been losing patience with Trump’s repeated public claims.

Silence and Tariffs

Since that call, Modi and Trump haven’t spoken. Meanwhile, Washington hit Indian exports with tariffs as high as 50 percent, further straining ties between the two countries.

Bloomberg Confirms Tense Call

Bloomberg also reported on the 35-minute call, quoting unnamed Indian officials. They said Modi directly confronted Trump over his “mediation” claims during Operation Sindoor, which followed the Pahalgam terror attack.

The fallout between the two once-friendly leaders has left Indo-US ties fraying, with trade disputes and political mistrust overshadowing what was once hailed as a growing partnership.