US Singer Who Touched Modi's Feet Weighs In on India Tariff Row as Trump Plans 25% Hike — Why It Matters

An American singer who once touched Prime Minister Narendra Modi's feet in a gesture of deep respect is now making headlines for a very different reason.

As tensions rise between Washington and New Delhi over trade tariffs, Mary Millben has stepped into the political arena, calling on Donald Trump and Narendra Modi to put aside their differences and preserve the countries' strategic alliance.

A Singer's Surprising Stand

Millben, best known for her performance of the Indian national anthem during Modi's 2023 US visit, said the 'tariff tug of war' was damaging small businesses in both nations.

'America needs India, and India needs America,' she urged, adding: 'Any direction in policy that strains our strategic alliance is the wrong direction.'

'Any direction in policy that strains our strategic alliance is the wrong direction,' she added. Millben went on to say that the 'tariff tug of war' was harming 'countless small businesses in the US and India.'

She implored Trump and PM Modi to seek a compromise, declaring, 'Your legacies and the well-being of our countries depend on this moment.'

Mary Millben has long been a champion of a strong bond between India and the United States. In 2023, following her performance of the Indian national anthem, 'Jana Gana Mana', during the Prime Minister's visit to the US, she showed reverence to Narendra Modi by touching his feet and seeking his blessing.

The US-Russia Paradox

Millben's intervention came after Trump issued a warning on Tuesday, stating he would 'substantially' raise the duty on goods imported from India from the existing 25 per cent in the next 24 hours. His reason was New Delhi's ongoing acquisition of Russian oil.

Trump's warning was issued despite America's continued import of billions of dollars' worth of Russian goods and energy, including enriched uranium. This is a fact that New Delhi has repeatedly highlighted in its defence of its trade with Moscow.

Trump replied to India's accusation of a double standard, stating, 'I don't know anything about it. I have to check it out.' The Trump administration had already implemented a 25 per cent levy alongside other penalties, citing India's ongoing purchases of Russian crude oil and existing trade barriers.

That measure took effect on 1 August. A new 25 per cent tariff has been added, raising the total duty to 50 per cent, which will take effect on August 27, according to a report by India Today.

US-Russia Trade: The Full Picture

Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in January 2022, the United States has taken in over $24.5 billion (£18.35 billion) of Russian products. In 2024 alone, Washington's imports from Moscow included fertilisers valued at $1.27 billion (£0.95 billion), uranium and plutonium worth $624 million (£467.18 million), and palladium with an approximate value of $878 million (£657.34 million).

Haley's Fiery Rebuke

Trump's announcement about raising tariffs on India over its oil imports from Russia drew criticism from Nikki Haley, the former US Ambassador to the United Nations. Haley said that Trump was damaging a relationship with a close ally like India while allowing adversary China a free pass.'

'India should not be buying oil from Russia. However, China, an adversary and the top buyer of Russian and Iranian oil, received a 90-day tariff pause. Don't give China a pass and burn a relationship with a strong ally like India,' she said.

From Modi's Feet to Trade Feud

Millben's political intervention is the latest chapter in her public connection to India. In 2023, she performed Jana Gana Mana at a state-level event during Modi's trip to the US, before touching his feet — a gesture that reverberated across global media.

Her current call for diplomacy between Trump and Modi highlights how soft power can intersect with complex politics, particularly in an era where celebrity influence extends beyond entertainment into the realm of international relations.