Donald Trump Calls India's Air 'Filthy' In Presidential Debate And Indians Fume In Anger
Denouncing Democrat rival Joe Biden's plans to tackle climate change in a presidential debate, Trump was quoted as saying, "Look at China, how filthy it is. Look at Russia. Look at India. The air is filthy."
US President Donald Trump accused China, India and Russia of not taking care of their "filthy air" as he justified America's withdrawal from the landmark Paris climate agreement. 
Denouncing Democrat rival Joe Biden's plans to tackle climate change in a presidential debate, Trump was quoted as saying, "Look at China, how filthy it is. Look at Russia. Look at India. The air is filthy."
Trump calls India filthy! pic.twitter.com/Wz2OZkly4i
¡ª Adeel Raja (@adeelraja) October 23, 2020
Trump's remarks came during the final presidential debate with his Joe Biden in Nashville, Tennessee. His comment did not sit well with Indians with people on social media attacking the US President and even seeking answers from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Here are some of the tweets:
Trump : Fruits of Friendship
¡ª Kapil Sibal (@KapilSibal) October 23, 2020
1) Questions India¡¯s COVID death toll
2) Says India sends dirt up into the air
India ¡° air is filthy ¡°
3) Called India ¡° tariff king ¡°
The result of ¡°Howdy Modi ¡° !
¡°Look at India, it¡¯s filthy!¡± I hope you¡¯re listening @narendramodi. ¡°Ab ki bar Trump sarkar.¡±
¡ª Aatish Taseer (@AatishTaseer) October 23, 2020
While some were angered over Trump's comment, making reference to the grand "Howdy, Modi" event help in February this year, some agreed that the air is indeed "filthy" but didn't like the way he said it.
Know what¡¯s filthy?
¡ª Saket Gokhale (@SaketGokhale) October 23, 2020
That Modi shamelessly campaigned for Trump, risked the lives of lakhs of Indians for him in the middle of a pandemic, & insulted the chair of the Indian PM by constantly prostrating in front of him due to his personal inferiority complex.
Modi had spent ?3.7 crores on flowers & covered up the slums to beautify Trump's route for the 'Namaste Trump' rally in Ahmedabad.
¡ª Srivatsa (@srivatsayb) October 23, 2020
But Trump called India 'filthy' in the Presidential debate today!
Will Modi respond? Be rest assured, Modi won't say a word against his BFF Doland
"India is filthy"
¡ª Wajahat "Wears a Mask Because of a Pandemic" Ali (@WajahatAli) October 23, 2020
Wow. Wonderful. Great way to win over Indian Americans, Trump.
Genius.#Debates2020
Nope. Doesn't bother us much. One, it has been said about us for literally a hundred years, we know better. Two, yes our air is filthy because of pollution, it is the truth. Three, we understand election rhetoric better than even Americans. https://t.co/ddYr961xYk
¡ª Smita Prakash (@smitaprakash) October 23, 2020
When Trump said India is filthy, was he not speaking the truth ? There r heaps of garbage everywhere in all cities, foodstuffs, water, rivers&air r polluted.
¡ª Markandey Katju (@mkatju) October 23, 2020
Trump continued at the televised debate in which the two candidates avoided shaking hands due to safety risks, "I will not sacrifice millions of jobs... thousands of companies because of the Paris Accord. It is very unfair,"
Trump's remarks come days before Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defense Secretary Mark Esper visit New Delhi for talks on building the growing US-India partnership.
This is the second time that Trump has made a critical reference to India during a debate. At the first presidential debate, Trump questioned India's coronavirus data.
Also, the US President has repeatedly blamed countries like India and China for not doing enough on climate change.
India is the fourth highest emitter of carbon dioxide in the world, accounting for 7 per cent of global emissions in 2017, according to the projection by the Global Carbon Project published in December, 2018.
Senior Writer at Indiatimes. She writes on Lifestyle, fashion, beauty, astrology and health.
