India Paid Lobbying Firm $75,000 a Month to Get Modi Mentioned in Trump’s Posts
India paid a US lobbying firm $75,000 a month to promote a social media post by US President Donald Trump congratulating Narendra Modi on becoming India’s longest-serving elected prime minister in June. The firm disclosed this in documents filed under the US Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).
The lobbying firm, Mercury Public Affairs, had a monthly contract worth $75,000 with the Indian Embassy. Several people associated with the firm have close ties to Trump. The Indian Embassy in Washington hired the firm after Trump began his second term as president.
According to a report by The Indian Express, Brian Lanza, communications director of Trump’s transition team, is a member of Mercury’s core team. Susie Wiles, Trump’s chief of staff, was also a registered lobbyist for the firm until late 2024.
In its FARA filing, Mercury stated that it had promoted Trump’s post on X in June congratulating Modi on becoming India’s longest-serving elected prime minister. However, the firm’s filing did not mention arranging for the post to be published on Truth Social.
Meanwhile, another lobbying firm, SHW Partners LLC, disclosed in its filing that it had arranged eight phone calls between the Indian government and senior White House officials in May and June. The firm, led by Trump’s close associate Jason Miller, described these calls in its FARA filing as part of its “political activities”. According to the firm, the calls were arranged to discuss India-US relations.
The Indian government hired Miller’s firm in April 2025. The contract was extended for another year in April this year. However, the agreement was terminated after Miller joined the Trump administration as a “special government employee” on June 23. The Indian Embassy in Washington had a monthly contract worth $150,000 with SHW Partners.
According to the documents, the firm was tasked with providing strategic policy advice, developing plans and helping establish relationships at various levels of the US government, including with the federal government, Congress, state governments, educational institutions, think tanks and other relevant stakeholders.
Under the US Foreign Agents Registration Act, agents acting on behalf of foreign individuals or organisations in political activities must periodically disclose their relationships with foreign clients, the activities they undertake and the financial compensation they receive.
According to the documents, Miller’s firm arranged several important phone calls between Indian officials and White House officials ahead of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to India in May. Those involved in the discussions included US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Deputy National Security Adviser Michael Needham and Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Jeanine Pirro.
After Rubio’s visit, the firm also coordinated contacts between Indian officials and senior members of the Trump administration in June. This time, the discussions involved US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, Trump’s policy aide Walker Barrett and White House Communications Director Steven Cheung.
Meanwhile, India’s Ministry of External Affairs has also clarified Mercury Public Affairs’ role. The ministry said the firm’s filing clearly stated that it had only promoted Trump’s post on X. It also described the appointment of lobbying firms by the Indian Embassy in the United States as a longstanding diplomatic practice.
Source: The Indian Express
