- Iran mocked US President Trump after his social media post about India and China
- Iran's Consulate General in Mumbai shared a video of Maharashtra's cultural heritage
- The consulate suggested Trump needs a cultural detox to understand diverse cultures
Iran has mocked US President Donald Trump after he shared a social media post referring to India and China as "hellholes" while calling for changes in America's birthright citizenship laws. Taking to X, Iran's Consulate General in Mumbai shared a video documenting Maharashtra's rich cultural and geographical heritage and claimed a trip to the state could be a 'cultural detox' for the US leader.
"Maybe someone should book a one-way cultural detox for Mr Trump, it might just reduce the random bakwaas," the consulate wrote in the post.
"Kabhi India aa ke dekho, phir bolna," it added.
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The 'Hell-Hole' Row
The controversy erupted after Trump reposted American political commentator and radio host Michael Savage's podcast, where he referred to India, China and other nations as "hell-holes". In his racist rant calling for changes in the United States' birthright citizenship law, Savage alleged that people from the two Asian nations come to the US to "drop a baby in the ninth month", and the law turns them into "instant" US citizens.
The conservative leader described Indian and Chinese immigrants as "gangsters with laptops" who have "stepped on our flag".
Trump's reporting of the remarks was seen as his endorsement of Savage's derogatory remarks.
ALSO READ: "Uninformed, Inappropriate, In Poor Taste": India After Trump 'Hell-Hole' Row
India's Reaction
India condemned the remarks, calling them “uninformed, inappropriate and in poor taste". Without directly mentioning Trump, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in a statement said the remarks "certainly do not reflect the reality of the India-US relationship, which has long been based on mutual respect and shared interests."
"We have seen the comments, as also the subsequent statement issued by the US embassy in response. The remarks are obviously uninformed, inappropriate and in poor taste. They certainly do not reflect the reality of the India-US relationship, which has long been based on mutual respect and shared interests," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.
ALSO READ: "India Great Country With Very Good Friend At Top": Trump After 'Hell-Hole' Row
US' Reaction
Later, in a damage-control move, the US embassy released a statement saying Trump believes India is a "great" country led by a "good friend of mine at the top".
Christopher Elms, spokesperson for the US Embassy in New Delhi, relayed that the Republican leader spoke warmly of India and talked of his personal bond with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
