India’s engagement of an American lobbying firm has sparked political controversy after official disclosures revealed eight high-level phone calls between New Delhi and Washington officials in May and June 2026.
The Washington-based Indian embassy contracted SHW Partners LLC, a firm led by Jason Miller, in April 2025. The agreement was later renewed for an additional year before concluding on June 23, 2026, after Miller joined the Trump administration as a special government employee.
Filings under the Foreign Agents Registration Act showed that the firm was paid $150,000 per month. The arrangement involved scheduling policy discussions and facilitating communications between the Indian government and senior White House personnel, according to reports based on federal disclosures, according to Nedrick News.
मोदी पैसे देकर ट्रंप से अपनी तारीफ वाले पोस्ट करवा रहे थे। ये खुलासा खुद अमेरिका की Mercury Public Affairs नाम की एक लॉबिंग फर्म ने किया है। इस फर्म को मोदी सरकार ने 75 हजार डॉलर महीने पर रखा था। दरअसल, अमेरिका में FARA (Foreign Agents Registration Act) के तहत लॉबिंग फर्म को… pic.twitter.com/skXHVovYGM
The disclosures detailed calls held ahead of and following visits by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, connecting Indian officials with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Deputy National Security Advisor Michael Needham, and Under Secretary Jean Lang, alongside trade and policy representatives.
Opposition leaders criticized the expenditures, pointing to a second firm, Mercury Public Affairs, which was retained at a cost of $75,000 per month. Congress leaders asserted that the payments were linked to favorable public remarks by Donald Trump on social media.
Things have become so bad that PM Modi even needs a lobbying firm just to speak to his ‘friend, Donald Trump’.
Congress, Party statement on X
Additional criticism came from Trinamool Congress Member of Parliament Mahua Moitra, who commented on the transparency of such public expenditures.
The truth is out. When Donald Trump tweets nice things about Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the reason is that we, meaning Indian taxpayers, paid an American lobbying firm for it! Thank you for paying attention to this matter.
Mahua Moitra, TMC MP
The Ministry of External Affairs fact-check team disputed social media characterizations of the filings, stating that foreign embassies routinely employ lobbying firms in the United States. Official records indicate that the Indian embassy in Washington has utilized such services since 1948.
Journalists covering the disclosures noted that while Mercury Public Affairs filings showed the firm disseminated social media posts from Trump regarding Prime Minister Narendra Modi.