There has long been a saying about America that it is not truly loyal to anyone—it is a country that uses others for its own ends and then discards them.
In October 2026, Trump reversed his own stance. Just three weeks earlier, he had signed a law authorizing tariffs of up to 100% on countries purchasing Russian oil. Yet, three weeks later, he spoke with Putin and announced that the US would buy over 3 million tonnes of diesel from Russia.
The US stance regarding India has been clear: buying Russian oil amounts to “fueling Putin’s war machine.” However, when the US itself purchases that same oil, the justification shifts—it becomes about “reducing fuel costs for American farmers and truck drivers.”
Why this sudden “about-turn”?
There is only one reason — the November 2026 midterm elections.
Diesel prices in the US had reached a record high of $6.28 per gallon. Diesel is no ordinary fuel; trucks, agricultural machinery, and factories all run on it. When diesel becomes expensive, the costs of transportation and food rise. And Trump’s core vote bank — Iowa, Kansas, Texas, and Ohio — lies in these very diesel-dependent states.
Trump had to take this step to bring prices down before the election — even if it meant buying oil from his “enemy,” Putin.
Why is there this “double standard” for the world?
“It is acceptable for the US to buy Russian fuel, but why is it punishable for India to do so?”
India’s argument is clear:
August 2025: Trump imposed an additional 25% tariff on India for purchasing Russian oil, bringing the total tariff to 50%.
February 2026: Trump stated that India had promised to stop buying Russian oil, so the tariff was reduced to 18%.
September 2026: Trump signed a law authorizing tariffs of up to 100% on countries purchasing Russian oil.
October 2026: The US itself began purchasing Russian diesel on a large scale.
American journalist Catherine Rampell quipped on X: “Does this mean we are going to impose tariffs on ourselves soon?”
🇺🇦 Their own people protested.
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy’s reaction was the sharpest. He stated bluntly:
“Allowing the sale of petroleum products to Russia is tantamount to investing in a war that needs to be ended, not prolonged.”
He called it a “birthday gift for Putin”—Putin’s 74th birthday had fallen just two days before the deal was announced.
But most significantly, even lawmakers from Trump’s own party were outraged. Seven senators (four Republicans and three Democrats) issued a joint statement demanding that Trump “immediately reverse” this decision. They pointed out that the US Congress had banned Russian energy imports back in 2022 specifically to prevent US dollars from funding Putin’s war.
When India buys Russian oil, it is “funding the war.”
America is a deeply hypocritical country. It strikes a deal when it serves its own interests, yet when India does the same, it is subjected to scrutiny. History bears witness to the fact that America has never truly been anyone’s friend.
The world operates like a marketplace. It functions like a market where people are dying. America itself supplies weapons, yet simultaneously attempts to restrain the very nations that use them.
The Same Action, Two Different Names
| The Action | When America Does It | When India Does It |
|---|---|---|
| Selling Weapons | “Defense Cooperation” | “Aggression” |
| Buying Russian Oil | “Energy Deal” | “Funding the War” |
America is a highly hypocritical country that looks out only for its own interests, often causing others to suffer significantly. It cares solely about itself; it is indifferent even if other nations starve. It changes its colors very quickly—there is no telling when it might turn a friend into an enemy or an enemy into a friend.
