Did India pay Donald Trump for a congratulatory post via US lobbying firms?

checkthis · automated fact-check · How we check · Reel by @anuvindkanwal

Re-checked 8 Nov 2026: first published as Half the story, now Doesn't follow.

India's embassy hired US lobbying firms for diplomatic outreach, but FARA filings show the firm only shared Trump's public post, not that Trump was paid for it. FARA filings confirm the Indian embassy paid $225,000 monthly to two US lobbying firms for policy and strategic counsel. Mercury Public Affairs listed Donald Trump's congratulatory post in its disclosures as material it disseminated to US stakeholders. However, reporting by Scroll and The Indian Express shows no record that anyone paid, commissioned, or requested Trump to write the post.

3 claims checked
1 source
Checked 8 Nov 2026
Main source: US lobbying firm lists Trump congratulatory post to Modi in its filing, reports ‘The Indian Express’

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The Reel we checked

@anuvindkanwal

Spending $225,000/month of taxpayers money to lobby raises legitimate questions about how much India is spending to gain access to the Trump administration…

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The trick: Coincidence = cause

It claims one thing caused another only because it came first or happened at the same time (known as false cause).

“Someone paid Trump to congratulate him on becoming the longest serving Prime Minister of India 🤫”

The creator treats a lobbying firm's filing recording the dissemination of a public post as evidence that Trump was paid to write it.

How this trick works and how to answer it →

What we checked

India spent $225,000 per month of taxpayers' money on lobbying.“One of the firms was Mercury Public Affairs, signed at a monthly retainer of $75,000, or approximately Rs 70 lakh”US lobbying firm lists Trump congratulatory post to Modi in its filing, reports ‘The Indian Express’

A US lobbying firm listed a Trump congratulatory post to Modi among its executed tasks.“One of the firms was Mercury Public Affairs, signed at a monthly retainer of $75,000, or approximately Rs 70 lakh”US lobbying firm lists Trump congratulatory post to Modi in its filing, reports ‘The Indian Express’

The Indian embassy hired two major lobbying firms headed by individuals considered part of the US president's inner circle.“One of the firms was Mercury Public Affairs, signed at a monthly retainer of $75,000, or approximately Rs 70 lakh”US lobbying firm lists Trump congratulatory post to Modi in its filing, reports ‘The Indian Express’

Connected

The same claim was checked in another Reel (@swatithakur.media, 2026-11-09): “The Indian government hired US lobbying firm Mercury Public Affairs for $75,000 a month.”, found true (see it)

What the Reel doesn't tell you

Mercury Public Affairs' FARA disclosure logged the dissemination of Trump's post after it was published; no record shows anyone requested, arranged, or paid Donald Trump for the post.
The Ministry of External Affairs clarified that engaging US lobbying firms is an established diplomatic practice dating back to 1948, with all details publicly disclosed.
Public FARA disclosures confirm the Indian Embassy in Washington contracted Mercury Public Affairs for $75,000 per month and SHW Partners LLC for $150,000 per month for government relations and policy counsel.

How it plays you

It wants you to think: “India is spending taxpayers' money on US lobbying firms to get favorable posts and access from Donald Trump.”

The fact that a lobbying firm listed the dissemination of Trump's public post in its mandatory filing does not mean public money was spent to pay Trump or buy his endorsement.

Short version

🔀 DOESN'T FOLLOW 👉 India's embassy hired US lobbying firms for diplomatic outreach, but FARA filings do not show Donald Trump was paid for his congratulatory post. 👉 Scroll and The Indian Express reported no record that anyone paid, commissioned, or requested Donald Trump to write the post. 🎭 Trick: Coincidence = cause 🔎 Full check: send this Reel to @checkthis.chat