Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament from Mandi, Kangana Ranaut, found herself at the centre of a ‘diplomatic’ storm after posting a controversial tweet targeting US President Donald Trump on Thursday, May 15, 2025. The actor-turned-politician swiftly deleted the post following backlash and a directive from BJP National President J.P. Nadda, highlighting the party’s cautious approach to maintaining India’s delicate ties with the United States amid ongoing trade deal discussions.

Ranaut’s now-deleted tweet speculated on Trump’s motives for discouraging Apple’s manufacturing expansion in India, drawing a provocative comparison between Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. According to viral screenshots, the post read: “What could be the reason of this love loss. 1) He is American President but world’s most loved leader is Indian Prime Minister. 2) Trump’s second term but Indian Prime Minister’s third term. 3) Undoubtedly Trump is alpha male but our PM is sab alpha male ka baap. What do you think? This is personal jealousy or diplomatic insecurity?” The post was in response to Trump’s remarks in Doha, Qatar, where he claimed to have told Apple CEO Tim Cook not to expand manufacturing in India, citing high tariffs. President Trump had recently claimed that India has offered to drop all tariffs on goods imported from US, a claim which was later refuted by Indian foreign minister S Jaishankar stating that “talks were still on”.
The tweet by Raut sparked immediate backlash on social media, with some BJP followers slamming Ranaut for her undiplomatic tone at a time when India is navigating complex relations with the US. The controversy was compounded by Trump’s recent claim that he intervened to broker a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, a statement that has put Prime Minister Modi on the defensive. Trump’s assertion, made during his Gulf region visit, has drawn criticism from BJP supporters who view it as an overreach, with many questioning his motives amid ongoing India-US trade deal negotiations.

In a follow-up post on X, Ranaut expressed regret and confirmed the deletion, stating: “Respected national president Shri @JPNadda ji called and asked me to delete the tweet I had posted regarding Trump asking Apple CEO Tim Cook not to manufacture in India. I regret posting that very personal opinion of mine, as per instructions I immediately deleted it from Instagram as well. Thanks.” This swift retraction underscores the BJP’s efforts to contain potential diplomatic fallout, especially as India and the US are still into trade agreement talks. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar recently clarified that no “zero-tariff” deal has been finalised, emphasising the need for careful negotiations.
This is not the first time Ranaut has courted controversy on social media. Just days earlier, she posted a video claiming it depicted India’s military operation against Pakistan, only to be fact-checked for sharing incorrect footage. Rather than issuing a correction, Ranaut tweaked the post, drawing criticism for her cavalier approach to sensitive national security issues. The incident added to the BJP’s growing concerns about her unfiltered online presence, especially given the party’s history of reining her in. In August 2023, Nadda reportedly summoned Ranaut to address her controversial remarks linking Indian farmers’ protests to unrest in Bangladesh.