Singer-Mary-Milben,-Who-Touched-PM-Modi’s-Feet

Mary Millben Calls on PM Modi & Trump to Lessen Trade Tensions, Referencing the Dilemma of Small Business

In 2023, when Mary Millben touched Prime Minister Narendra Modi's feet after an emotional singing of Jana Gana Mana, the video circled the globe. The Black American singer is in the news again, not for her music, but for stepping into the growing India-US tariff spat. As President Donald Trump is threatening to increase tariffs on Indian goods to 25% over New Delhi’s Russian oil imports, Millben is now an unexpected player in the mix, asking both countries to focus on diplomacy rather than economic brinkmanship. 

What Millben Highlights: US-Russian Trade Despite Tariff Threats to India.

Millben's comments in interviews and on social media focused on the human costs of the trade spat. US imports from Russia since 2022 total US$24.51 billion, which includes uranium and fertilizers that India uses to its advantage with the US. 40% of India’s crude oil comes from Russia today, up from 2% before 2022, thanks to post-Ukraine war discounts. 

Millben's message resonates with small businesses. The tariff tug of war is hurting so many entrepreneurs in both countries. The increased tariffs for India, motivated by economic necessity, come at a time when the US is placing pressure on India to reconsider its ties with Moscow and is simultaneously questioning why India has such good relations with Moscow, according to Al Jazeera and India Today.

I’ll say again: America needs India, and India needs America- Mary Millben ( Source: TimesNow News)

Tariff Controversy Raises Geopolitical Concerns over U.S.-India Relations

Trump had received criticism from former US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley over his announcement of significantly increasing tariffs on oil imports from Russia. Haley stated that Trump was ruining a relationship with a strong ally, India, while he gave adversary China a pass.

“India should not be buying oil from Russia. But China, an adversary and the number one buyer of oil from Russia and Iran, gets a 90-day tariff suspension. Don't give China a pass and ruin a relationship with a strong ally like India,” she said.

Cultural Diplomacy: Beyond Trade

Millben's performance during Modi's 2023 state visit exemplifies the bridging of cultural diplomacy:

  • The context of her singing of Jana Gana Mana at the Ronald Reagan Building's Main Reception Hall, in the context of the historic connection of shared democratic values.
  • While there were tariffs in place, Modi's visit in 2025 yielded positive advancements through defense and energy deals.
  • "Free people confirm a free nation," Millben stated, encouraging cultural diplomacy efforts to bridge between cultural and economic growth.

Millben stated the "tariff tug of war" was hurting countless small businesses in the US and India." She urged Trump and Modi to seek more in common, saying, "Your legacies and the health of our countries are to be made by this moment".

Beyond Tariffs: Prioritizing Mutual Interests for US-India Trade.

As Trump and Modi confront trade tensions in 2025, Millben’s input humanizes the challenge. Given 2024’s US-India trade, which amounted to $191 billion, the contest has too much significance to remain unsolved for too long. Millben’s appeal, grounded in sharing mutual respect, might persuade the adversaries to compromise.