Top Democrat Blames Trump’s Ego And Pakistan Money For Straining US-India Relations

In a fiery interview, top Democratic leader Rahm Emanuel has accused former US President Donald Trump of sacrificing decades of American strategic progress with India all to chase a Nobel Peace Prize. Emanuel claimed that Trump’s ego and alleged financial links with Pakistan derailed what he called “four decades of meticulous planning.”

“He threw it all away because Modi wouldn’t say the President deserved a Nobel Peace Prize for brokering the ceasefire with Pakistan,” said Emanuel, a former aide to Barack Obama and former US ambassador to Japan under the Trump administration.


India, facing 50% tariffs, has insisted that the pause in Operation Sindoor its counter-terror offensive launched in response to a Kashmir attack was a decision made independently after a request from the Pakistani military. However, Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed, “at least 50 times,” that he forced both India and Pakistan to agree to the truce by threatening 200% tariffs.

Emanuel criticized the claim sharply, saying the move wrecked Washington’s long-term vision.
"a major counterweight against China both on the manufacturing and technology side, but also on the military side." Emanuel said in an interview with Mediatouch Network.

“The president of the United States has literally thrown away 40 years of meticulous strategic planning and preparation, through Democratic and Republican administrations ,even his first administration,” he added.

He further claimed that Trump’s actions were motivated “by ego and by money from Pakistan, which was paying both his son and the son of his aide, Steve Witkoff.” The comment appeared to refer to Zach Witkoff, co-founder of a company that, in April 2025, partnered with the Pakistan Crypto Council to promote digital financial transactions. Donald Trump’s sons Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump along with his son-in-law Jared Kushner, are reportedly stakeholders in the firm.

Rahm Emanuel’s Political Legacy

Rahm Emanuel, once an investment banker, has had an extensive career in American politics. He served three terms in the US House of Representatives (2003–2009), was White House Chief of Staff under President Barack Obama from 2009 to 2010, and later became Mayor of Chicago from 2011 to 2019.

Known for his blunt style and political sharpness, Emanuel’s comments have stirred fresh controversy in Washington particularly as Trump prepares for another possible presidential bid.