‘No friendship under pressure’: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat hits out at Trump over US tariffs

The RSS chief said that the RSS doesn't influence the government in such matters and added that the government knows what needed to be done.

Updated on: Aug 28, 2025, 23:03:46 IST

By Majid Alam

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RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Thursday reacted to the US tariffs on India, by saying “there is no friendship under pressure”.

New Delhi: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat speaks during the launch of the book 'Tan Samarpit, Man Samarpit', in the memory of RSS leader late Ramesh Prakash, in New Delhi. (PTI)

While speaking during an event in Delhi a day after the additional 25% US tariffs came into effect, Bhagwat said that the government will take its decisions on the Trump's tariff and that the RSS don't influence the government on such issues.

The RSS chief, without naming anyone, took a jibe at the US over the tariffs saying that the international trade should happen “without any boundation” and "not under pressure".

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"International trade is necessary and should happen... But it should not happen under any pressure. There is no friendship under pressure. It should be there without any boundation and through mutual choice. It should not be under pressure. We should not come under the pressure. I don't have to tell this individually,” Bhagwat said during the briefing.

He said that the RSS doesn't influence the government in such matters and added that the government knows what needed to be done.

“We don't influence the government to respond to this way or that according to what Trump says. They have to handle that. What they have to do, they will decide. Whatever they will do, it is necessary for everyone to support that. They have to decide what to do. They know how it is done. They will look after the hurdles,” he added.

The remarks from the RSS chief comes after the 50 per cent tariffs on Indian goods imposed by the Donald Trump administration came into force on Wednesday. The move poses serious challenges for India's US-oriented exporters.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asserted that the government would shield small entrepreneurs, farmers, and livestock rearers.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Majid Alam
Majid Alam is a Chief Content Producer working at Hindustan Times, based in New Delhi. He currently heads shifts at online desk and manages homepage apart from writing, editing and curating articles. With over six years of experience in journalism, Majid has navigated national, politics and international news. His work primarily focuses on the politics of the Hindi heartland, government policies, and South Asia. He also writes on US and Europe’s policies vis-à-vis India. Before joining Hindustan Times, Majid worked at ABP LIVE as the Chief Copy Editor and at News18, where he managed the World and Explainers sections. His articles have featured in Dialogue Earth, The Quint, BMJ, The Diplomat, and Outlook India. Majid has a keen interest in the use of data for storytelling. Majid holds a Masters in Convergent Journalism from Jamia Millia Islamia. He was awarded the Erasmus+ scholarship to study International Affairs at Sciences Po, Paris in 2020. He is also part of the OCEANS Network, an alumni network of Erasmus+ exchange scholars. He is currently serving as the National Representative (India) at the OCEANS Network. Apart from journalism, Majid has a flair for academic writing and loves to teach. He has published a book chapter: 'Bombay Cinema and Postmodernism' in the book: 'Handbook of Research on Social and Cultural Dynamics in Indian Cinema.' He was also part of the OCEANS Network delegation to Hanoi National University of Education in Vietnam in 2025. He has also given guest lecture in digital journalism at AJK MCRC, Jamia Millia Islamia.Read More

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