A seemingly innocuous remark by Prime Minister Narendra Modi—”I knew he was not happy”—has ignited a firestorm of political discourse, thrusting Indo-U.S. relations into the spotlight just days into 2025. Made during a high-level diplomatic briefing on January 2, the comment alluded to U.S. President Donald Trump’s longstanding frustration with India’s robust imports of discounted Russian crude oil. In a leaked excerpt from the closed-door session with senior envoys, Modi reportedly reflected on his interactions with Trump,