Jason Miller, head of SHW Partners LLC, a lobbying firm hired by India for $1.8 million annually, met US President Donald Trump and administration officials this week to address escalating tensions over trade and tariffs. The meeting, set against the backdrop of strained US-India relations, follows Trump’s decision to impose a hefty 50% tariff on Indian goods, including a 25% punitive duty linked to India’s continued purchase of Russian crude oil—an action India has called “unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable.”

Miller, a longtime Trump confidant and former senior adviser to his 2016, 2020, and 2024 campaigns, shared photos from the White House on social media, captioning them, “Fantastic week in Washington with so many friends being in town, topped off of course by having the opportunity to stop in and see our President in-action!” While he did not disclose the meeting’s agenda, its timing suggests efforts to mitigate the fallout from the tariff dispute. The Indian embassy engaged SHW Partners LLC in April 2025 to provide “strategic counsel, tactical planning, and government relations assistance” across US government bodies, Congress, and think tanks, with a monthly fee of $150,000.

Despite the trade friction, both leaders signaled a desire to preserve ties. On Friday, Trump described the US-India relationship as “special” and called Prime Minister Narendra Modi a “great prime minister,” though he expressed displeasure with India’s current trade policies. “I’ll always be friends with Modi, but I just don’t like what he’s doing at this particular moment,” Trump said at a news conference. Modi reciprocated on X, stating, “Deeply appreciate and fully reciprocate President Trump’s sentiments and positive assessment of our ties,” emphasizing the “positive and forward-looking Comprehensive and Global Strategic Partnership” between the two nations.

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The tariffs, doubled in August, have sparked concerns about India’s economic interests, with critics like Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge accusing Modi of prioritizing personal alliances over national welfare. As India ramps up its diplomatic outreach, including hiring additional lobbying firms like Mercury Public Affairs, Miller’s meeting with Trump could be a pivotal step toward de-escalating tensions and restoring balance to the critical US-India partnership.

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