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India reportedly paid a US lobbying firm $75,000 a month to secure references to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in US President Donald Trump’s posts on his social media platform Truth Social.
According to a report by The Wire published on Saturday (November 7), the arrangement was disclosed in documents filed under the US Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).
The lobbying firm, Mercury Public Affairs, arranged the posts in June, following Modi’s emergence as India’s longest-serving prime minister. The firm had been hired on a monthly retainer of $75,000 after Trump’s re-election.
Mercury has links to several figures close to Trump. Brian Lanza, communications director of Trump’s transition team, was part of the firm’s core team, while Susie Wiles, who served as Trump’s chief of staff until late 2024, was also registered as a lobbyist with the firm.
The firm also arranged a post by Trump on X in which he congratulated Modi.
Another firm, SHW Partners LLC, led by Trump adviser Jason Miller, arranged eight phone calls between Indian government officials and senior White House officials in May and June. FARA filings described the calls as “political activities” focused on India-US relations.
India hired Miller’s firm in April 2025 and extended the contract for another year in April 2026. The agreement was terminated on June 23 after Miller joined the Trump administration as a special government employee. The Indian Embassy in Washington had signed the contract at a monthly fee of $150,000.
According to the filings, the firm provided strategic policy advice and assistance to India in dealing with the US government, Congress, state governments, academic institutions and think tanks.
Under FARA, agents conducting political activities on behalf of foreign clients must regularly disclose details of their activities and financial transactions.
Before US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to India in May, Miller’s firm arranged meetings involving Indian officials and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Deputy National Security Adviser Michael Needham and senior Treasury official Jean Lanze.
Following the visit in June, Indian officials also held discussions with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, policy assistant Walker Barrett and White House Communications Director Steven Cheung.
