Former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda has strongly criticized US President Donald Trump for his recent remarks calling India a "dead economy," suggesting Trump is either uninformed or deliberately ignoring facts. In a formal statement released on August 1, 2025, Deve Gowda expressed his surprise and disappointment at Trump's "baseless and ill-tempered remarks". He described Trump as "volatile, uncivil, and irresponsible," noting his disregard for international norms of diplomacy.

Deve Gowda stated that Trump has behaved badly not only with India but with nearly every other country, including long-standing allies. He further added that there is something fundamentally wrong with him that diplomacy or statecraft cannot address.

The former Prime Minister emphasized India's economic strengths, highlighting that India remains the fastest-growing economy and the fifth-largest in the world. He stated that Trump must either be blind or ill-informed to designate India's economy as "dead". Gowda also lauded the dignity, integrity, and humanity with which even small traders and poor farmers in India conduct their business, suggesting they could teach Trump many lessons.

Deve Gowda also voiced his support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership. He commended the government for resisting external pressure from the U.S. and for prioritizing India's national interests. According to Gowda, India has not succumbed to Trump's bullying tactics and has demonstrated that it will not be dictated by threats. He praised the Modi government's efforts to protect the Indian agriculture sector, as well as small and medium businesses.

Furthermore, Deve Gowda cautioned opposition leaders who seemed to be supporting Trump's views. He urged them to prioritize national interests and warned them against becoming "deluded spokespersons" for Trump, suggesting that aligning with such views could lead to their political downfall.