A video of three world leaders laughing together at a summit in Tianjin became, briefly, a prop in American domestic politics — California Governor Gavin Newsom using the image of Modi, Putin, and Xi in apparent harmony to quietly ridicule Donald Trump's plan to send National Guard troops to Chicago. The exchange is one moment in a longer rivalry between two men who seem to understand that in the current era, political combat is also a form of theater. Behind the mockery, however, lie genuine tensions: trade tariffs straining U.S.-India relations, questions about presidential health, and an in
The Economic Times
· Sep 02, 2025
· governance
· 3 min read
High
Sourcing: Characterized
Newsom mocks Trump's Chicago plan using Modi-Putin-Xi summit video
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Politics & Governance
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Bias & Framing
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Geopolitical Impact
🌎
US domestic political dispute escalates as Newsom uses Modi-Putin-Xi summit imagery to mock Trump, inadvertently highlighting strengthening Russia-China-India coordination amid US trade tensions.
Escalation Risk
moderate
Confidence
HIGH
United States
Russia
China
India
SCO member states
The incident reveals fracturing US internal consensus on foreign policy. Modi-Putin-Xi alignment signals SCO consolidation as counterweight to US influence in Asia. Trump's tariff policies (25% on Indian goods) are driving India closer to Russia-China partnership, weakening traditional US-India ties. Newsom's mockery inadvertently validates the effectiveness of this trilateral coordination.
Similar to Cold War-era US domestic divisions over Soviet relations (1960s-70s), where internal American political disputes undermined unified foreign policy, allowing adversaries to exploit inconsistency.
Economic Lens
📈
Political dispute between Trump and Newsom over National Guard deployment in Chicago; SCO summit highlights US-China-Russia relations amid 25% tariffs on Indian goods.
Market Signal
mixed
Confidence
MED
Government and Public Administration
International Trade
Defense and Security
Tariffs and Trade Policy
Potential increased costs for consumers due to 25% tariffs on Indian goods affecting imports; uncertainty around domestic security policies may influence business investment and consumer confidence in major US cities.
Escalating trade tensions with India and broader US-China-Russia geopolitical competition may prompt retaliatory tariffs; domestic security deployment debates could influence federal-state relations and urban policy; potential for increased protectionist measures affecting global supply chains.