‘Why are Americans paying for AI in India?’ Trump aide Navarro’s fresh rant over US-funded ChatGPT use abroad

After a hiatus of several weeks, White House trade adviser Peter Navarro has once again turned his attention to India, this time questioning why Americans were paying for artificial intelligence services used in the country. Navarro argued that platforms such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT operate on US soil, rely on American electricity, and yet cater to a vast global user base, including India.

Speaking in an interview with former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon on “Real America Voice”, Navarro flagged what he described as a problem that needs to “be dealt with”. He questioned the use of American resources to support AI services overseas, asking why US consumers were effectively footing the bill.

Trump's BFF 76yr young Peter Navarro Strikes again: "Why are Americans paying for AI in India? ChatGPT operating on US soil using American electricity servicing large users of ChatGPT in India and China." pic.twitter.com/ASs9awddVy

— Mihir Jha (@MihirkJha) January 18, 2026

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“Why are Americans paying for AI in India? ChatGPT operates on US soil and uses American electricity, servicing large users of ChatGPT in India and China and elsewhere around the world,” Navarro said, remarks that have since gone viral.

Navarro also raised concerns over foreign purchases of US farmland, claiming overseas entities were buying agricultural land at prices far above market value. He warned that such trends could worsen food inflation in the US.

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His comments come at a time of continued friction between India and the US, amid President Donald Trump’s imposition of 50 percent tariffs on New Delhi over its continued purchase of Russian oil, and a prolonged deadlock over a broader trade agreement.

This is not the first time Navarro has courted controversy with remarks targeting India. In the past, he has repeatedly questioned India’s trade practices and manufacturing policies, often portraying New Delhi as a tough and unfair negotiator.

Navarro has previously accused India of fuelling Russia’s war in Ukraine by continuing to import discounted Russian crude oil. He intensified his criticism by describing India as a “laundromat” for the Kremlin, branding its Russian oil imports as “blood money” and even referring to the Ukraine conflict as “Modi’s war”.

Most notably, his comment invoking a “Brahmin” analogy while referring to India’s leadership drew sharp criticism from New Delhi.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs had rejected the remarks as “unacceptable” and “ill-informed”, stressing that such characterisations undermine mutual respect and fail to reflect the depth of the India–US relationship.