Why Modi-Putin car selfie made it to US Congress hearing
What's the story
A now-famous selfie of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin was displayed in the United States Congress by Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove. The photo was used to illustrate her point that Washington's actions are pushing India closer to Russia. "Trump's policies toward India can only be described as cutting our nose to spite our face," she said, adding that the administration's pressure tactics are doing "real and lasting damage to the strategic trust and mutual understanding between our...countries."
Twitter Post
Watch video from the hearing here
The Modi Putin car selfie makes debut in US Congress. @RepKamlagerDove — “Trump's policies towards India can only be described as cutting our nose to spite our face, and this is Doing real & lasting damage to the strategic trust & mutual understanding between our two… pic.twitter.com/MPQuerpL0y
— Rohit Sharma 🇺🇸🇮🇳 (@DcWalaDesi) December 10, 2025
Policy critique
Kamlager-Dove criticizes US approach to India-Russia ties
Kamlager-Dove further warned, "You do not get a Nobel Peace Prize by driving US strategic partners into the arms of our adversaries," pointing toward the selfie poster. She said that the event should serve as a wake-up call for Washington "because let me be clear: being a coercive partner has a cost." The Congresswoman also thanked her colleagues for recognizing the importance of this issue on a bipartisan level.
Diplomatic visit
Putin's visit to India and its implications
Putin's visit to India was his first since the Russia-Ukraine war started in 2022. He received a red-carpet welcome at Delhi's Palam Airport and was greeted by PM Modi with a handshake and hug. The two leaders then drove together in an Indian-assembled Toyota Fortuner to PM Modi's residence for dinner, a gesture both sides interpreted as a sign of personal warmth.
Symbolic gesture
Putin, Modi shared car in China
Putin had Modi had also shared a car together during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit in China. He later told India Today that the car ride was his idea and a symbol of their friendship. He said, ""It wasn't pre-planned. We stepped outside, my car was there, and I suggested that we ride together. It wasn't some elaborate orchestration, we simply got into the car as two friends." "We talked throughout the drive...there's always something to discuss."