Why Trump’s America Looks a Lot Like Modi’s India Right Now
PM Narendra Modi with US President Donald Trump at a press conference Image credit X.com
From America’s record-low consumer sentiment to India’s stalled census and missing employment data, experts say both nations face a crisis of transparency and growing public distress.
By MANISH ANAND
New Delhi, November 19, 2025 — A wave of economic anxiety is sweeping both the United States and India, prompting comparisons between the leadership of President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Reports from universities, private agencies and independent economists indicate that the two countries—despite vastly different political environments—are facing strikingly similar crises of jobs, data transparency and public sentiment.
In the US, a new University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index shows confidence plunging to its lowest level in years. Only half of respondents believe the American economy will remain stable. Millions of Americans are relying on credit cards for essential purchases, while layoffs have climbed higher than during the 2009 recession and even the COVID-19 pandemic.
This economic strain coincides with a prolonged federal government shutdown, triggered by a standoff between Trump and Congress.
Analysts say the issue is compounded by the Trump administration’s reluctance to release official labour data after key officials in the Labor Department were removed—forcing economists to now depend on private surveys.
India Faces a Parallel Crisis
India’s situation, experts argue, mirrors many of these same challenges.
The 2021 Census, which should have been completed by now, remains indefinitely delayed. As a result, India’s last official population and socioeconomic dataset still dates back to 2011. Government surveys that once provided reliable insights—such as the National Sample Survey and National Family Health Survey—are now under scrutiny for credibility gaps.
The absence of official data has pushed analysts and journalists to rely heavily on private sources like CMIE, whose numbers indicate that unemployment among fresh graduates hovers around 45%. Independent reports show job losses across multiple sectors, including IT, manufacturing and services.
Despite this, the BJP continues to register electoral victories across states such as Haryana, Delhi, Maharashtra and Jammu, while leveraging heavy welfare schemes in places like Bihar.
Parallels Between Trump and Modi Governance
Commentators note that both Trump and Modi have been described as powerful executives who have tightened control over independent institutions, especially those responsible for data generation. The result: reduced transparency, weakened statistical credibility and a public unable to fully understand the true depth of the economic situation.
Former NITI Aayog vice-chairman Rajiv Kumar had promised a robust national employment dataset nearly six years ago—but no such official database has materialised.
Meanwhile, household debt in both countries is rising sharply. Credit card dependency and EMIs are squeezing the middle-class consumer in India, just as rising personal debt is straining American households.
A Shared Mood of Economic Uncertainty
Whether in New York City—where voters recently rejected Trump-backed candidates—or in Indian metros grappling with shrinking opportunities, the public mood appears consistently bleak.
Analysts say the growing resemblance between the US and India lies not just in economic stress, but in the lack of credible, timely information needed to solve it.
As both countries navigate political polarisation, institutional strain and economic distress, experts warn that without transparent data and coordinated policy action, public trust and financial stability may deteriorate further.
(This is a monologue-based opinion piece, first aired on YouTube channel of The Raisina Hills; opinions are those of the author only)
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