Peter Navarro clashes with X over fact-check on India’s Russian oil purchases
Washington DC: White House trade adviser Peter Navarro has reignited his feud with social media platform X after his posts alleging India’s profiteering from Russian oil were flagged with community notes.
In a series of posts on Sunday (local time), Navarro dismissed the fact-checks as “crap” and accused X of serving “foreign interests” that interfere in U.S. economic and political discourse. He launched a user poll asking whether X should “present this crap,” escalating tensions with the platform.
Navarro, Senior Counsellor for Trade and Manufacturing under U.S. President Donald Trump, had earlier claimed that India’s purchase of Russian oil was motivated purely by profiteering and that New Delhi’s tariffs were costing “American jobs.” His remarks were fact-checked by users on X, pointing out inaccuracies in his claims.
In response, Navarro accused the Indian government of running a “spin machine” and alleged that revenues from Russian oil sales were fueling Moscow’s war effort. “India buys Russia oil solely to profiteer. It didn’t buy any before Russia invaded Ukraine,” he posted.
Despite his strong criticism, Navarro’s own poll appeared to backfire. At the time of reporting, over 60 per cent of respondents voted in favor of X presenting diverse viewpoints, including fact-check notes, undermining Navarro’s stance.
Navarro’s comments also targeted the Washington Post, which had reported on tensions within the Trump administration over its India policy. He accused the newspaper of spreading “fake news,” adding that India’s “highest tariffs cost U.S. jobs” and that Washington’s leniency toward New Delhi was misplaced.
FACTS: India highest tariffs costs U.S. jobs. India buys Russian oil purely to profit/Revenues feed Russia war machine. Ukrainians/Russians die. U.S. taxpayers shell out more. India can't handle truth/spins @washpo
— Peter Navarro (@RealPNavarro) September 5, 2025
Leftist American fake news. QED. https://t.co/9UwdodYBEe
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4 children test HIV positive in MP govt hospital; contaminated blood transfusion suspected
Satna/Bhopal (PTI): Four children suffering from thalassemia have tested HIV positive at Satna District Hospital in Madhya Pradesh allegedly due to contaminated blood transfusions, officials said on Tuesday.
The case is four months old and an investigation is underway into it, an official said.
Officials suspect the use of contaminated needles or blood transfusions for the spread of infection to the children.
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MP Health Minister Rajendra Shukla told reporters in Bhopal that he has ordered a probe into the matter and sought a report.
“It is also being investigated whether the blood transfusion took place in other hospitals also or only in the government hospital,” he said.
The affected children, aged between 12 and 15 years, received blood transfusions from the hospital's blood bank, as per an official.
Devendra Patel, in-charge of the blood bank at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel District Hospital in Satna, said four children have tested HIV positive and an investigation is underway to determine how they got infected.
"Either an infected needle was used or a blood transfusion occurred. These are the two main reasons I believe. Blood transfusion seems to be the most likely cause," he told PTI Videos.
All these children suffer from thalassemia, and some have received 80 or 100 blood transfusions, he said.
A family member of one of the affected children said that their child was found to be HIV positive during a routine checkup about four months back, and he has been receiving medication, but it had proven to be of no use.
After taking the medication for HIV, the child starts vomiting, feels low and becomes ill, he said.
After the four children were detected with HIV infection, their family members were also tested and the results came out negative, he added.
The Opposition Congress targeted the government over the matter and demanded the resignation of Health Minister Shukla.
Speaking to reporters in Bhopal, Congress MLA and former minister Sachin Yadav claimed such incidents were continuously occurring in Madhya Pradesh.
Earlier, a case of toxic cough syrup came to light in Chhindwara, followed by incidents of rat bites at hospitals in Indore and Satna, and now children have been given HIV-infected blood, he said.
"The health minister is unable to manage the department. He should resign. A murder case should be filed against those responsible for the Satna incident," Yadav said.
Senior Congress leader Sajjan Singh Verma termed it a failure of the government. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav's government has no connection with ground realities, he charged.
"Somewhere rats are roaming in hospitals, somewhere children are being given HIV-infected blood. Instead of preventing HIV, you are spreading it. Mohan Yadav should wake up from his slumber. Children are the nation's heritage and should be taken care of," he added.
