Tue Jan 21 18:07:33 UTC 2025: ## Trump’s Inauguration Sparks Concerns in India Over Immigration and Tariffs
**New Delhi, January 21, 2025** – The inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump has triggered anxieties in India following the President’s swift enactment of policies impacting Indian citizens and businesses. Immediately after being sworn in, President Trump signed an executive order revoking birthright citizenship, a move that could affect thousands of Indian professionals working in the U.S. on temporary visas.
Further fueling concerns, President Trump announced plans to impose a 100% tariff on BRICS nations engaging in non-dollar transactions. This announcement, coupled with a planned crackdown on undocumented immigrants that could affect an estimated 725,000 Indians, has prompted immediate diplomatic engagement.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with the newly inaugurated U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, to address these concerns. The meeting, Mr. Rubio’s first with a foreign dignitary, followed a Quad Foreign Ministers’ meeting and focused on bilateral relations, the upcoming Quad Summit in India, and the implications of President Trump’s policies.
Mr. Jaishankar’s prominent seating at the inauguration ceremony, ahead of Australian and Japanese counterparts, underscored India’s strategic importance. His subsequent social media posts showcasing meetings with key members of the Trump administration further highlighted the efforts to manage the evolving relationship.
The Quad Foreign Ministers’ meeting, prioritizing the Indo-Pacific partnership, stands in contrast to President Trump’s outreach to China, symbolized by the invitation to Chinese President Xi Jinping’s representative to the inauguration. Secretary Rubio’s strong stance against China, evident in his past comments and confirmation hearing, suggests a potential counterbalance to Trump’s overtures. The emphasis on the Quad partnership is seen as a strategic message to Beijing.
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