Trump’s H-1B Move Hits India: “Anti-India Step… Modi & Trump Need to Meet” – India vs U.S.
Trump’s $100K H-1B fee jolts India-US ties as Barkha Dutt and Prof. Derek Grossman unpack visa shocks and shifting global alliances.
Journalist Barkha Dutt spoke with Derek Grossman, Professor of International Relations at the University of Southern California, about the Trump administration’s sudden plan to impose a steep $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa applicants, a move that affects Indian professionals the most. Indians received about 70% of these work visas last year, so the announcement threatens thousands of tech workers and adds fresh tension to India-US relations.
Discussion Highlights
Grossman called the decision an “anti-India move,” suggesting President Trump either sees little value in the India relationship or is using the fee as leverage in trade negotiations. The timing puzzled many because Trump had just called Prime Minister Narendra Modi to restart trade talks.
Beyond visas, Dutt and Grossman explored a newly announced Pakistan–Saudi Arabia defense pact, raising concerns for India’s security. Grossman noted that while the pact sounds like an “Islamic NATO,” Saudi Arabia is unlikely to risk ties with India, though it signals shifting alliances in the region. They also discussed Trump’s softer tone toward China and his unpredictable foreign policy style, which Grossman described as “confused and uncoordinated.”
Dutt concluded that trust between India and the US is frayed. While a future Modi-Trump meeting could revive stalled trade talks, she warned that India’s tilt toward America has “returned to the center,” reflecting deep public anger and a need to guard national sovereignty.
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