MAGA is seizing on President Trump's trade war with India to mount a broader crusade against Indian immigration, influence and culture.

Why it matters: The sudden hostility from Trump's base has stunned Indian officials at a time when New Delhi already was reeling from the president's 50% tariffs, which he imposed as a penalty for buying Russian oil.

The big picture: The escalation threatens to unravel Washington's years-long bet that India can serve as a regional counterweight to China — a strategy that Trump himself championed in his first term. • Trump and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi linked arms at a massive "Howdy Modi!" rally in Texas in 2019, and again in Modi's home state of Gujarat at an even bigger "Namaste Trump!" event in 2020. • But this week, with India-U.S. ten

See Full Page