Former U.S. Ambassador Rahm Emanuel has launched a scathing critique of Donald Trump, alleging that the former president undermined long-standing U.S.–India relations in pursuit of personal ambition and financial gain tied to Pakistan. Emanuel claims that Trump’s fixation on securing a Nobel Peace Prize, and reported monetary ties to Pakistani interests, compelled him to abandon decades of bipartisan diplomatic groundwork between Washington and New Delhi. 

Emanuel argued that the relationship “was literally thrown away” because Prime Minister Narendra Modi refused to endorse Trump’s Nobel bid. The former envoy said Trump acted “out of ego, and then out of money from Pakistan that was paying both his son and Witkoff’s son,” referring to a controversial crypto-industry deal involving Pakistani authorities.

According to Emanuel, the damage is strategic as well as diplomatic. He warned that China has capitalized on the disruption in U.S.–India ties, undermining U.S. influence in South Asia. He also described India as “a major counterweight against China” on multiple fronts — manufacturing, technology, and military — and lamented that 40 years of “meticulous, strategic planning” was jeopardized.

Emanuel tied his critique to broader developments in the Trump–India dynamic, he contended that Trump’s efforts to present himself as a peace broker in the India–Pakistan conflict, including claims of brokering a ceasefire, were partly driven by his Nobel ambitions. He also referenced a deal between the Pakistan Crypto Council and a firm associated with Trump’s sons and Jared Kushner — a deal that Trump had publicly supported as evidence of his role in de-escalating India–Pakistan tensions. 

The fallout in India has been tangible: New Delhi has rejected allegations of U.S. mediation in its border disputes, insisting that ceasefire decisions were independently made. At the same time, trade relations have been strained by high U.S. tariffs on Indian goods. The timing and intensity of Emanuel’s remarks underscore the depth of discontent among U.S. foreign policy watchers. As attention turns to the 2025 U.S. elections and evolving South Asia dynamics, the debate over whether Trump’s personal priorities have jeopardized strategic partnerships could become a defining issue.  

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