American singer Mary Millben lashed out at India’s opposition leader Rahul Gandhi for taking a jab at Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She took to her X account on Friday (IST) morning, calling out the Congress politician being “wrong” about his stance as the South Asian nation continues to be targeted for its purchases of Russian oil amid Russia’s war in Ukraine.
US singer Mary Millben speaks out against Rahul Gandhi – What she wrote
“PM @narendramodi is not afraid of President Trump. PM Modi understands the long game and his diplomacy with the US as strategic,” she wrote on X. Millben insisted that much like the 79-year-old American leader putting his country’s interests first Modi was also bound to prioritise what’s best for India.
Applauding the Indian prime minister for the same, she added, “That’s what Heads of State do. They do and say what is best for their country.” In the very next line, she went on to school Gandhi over his inability to “understand this type of leadership,” arguing that he didn’t “possess the acumen to be PM of India.”
“Best to return to your “I hate India” tour that has an audience of one – you,” she concluded the message.
You are wrong, @RahulGandhi.
— Mary Millben (@MaryMillben) October 17, 2025
PM @narendramodi is not afraid of President Trump. PM Modi understands the long game and his diplomacy with the U.S. is strategic. Just as @POTUS will always put America’s interests first, so will PM Modi do what is best for India. And I applaud that.… https://t.co/4p0HNRCAv2
What Rahul Gandhi said about PM Modi
Yesterday morning, Gandhi tweeted, “PM Modi is frightened of Trump.” In his outrightly inflammatory admission targeting the Indian leader, the INC politician said that Modi had made room for the US president to pull the strings related to India’s trade with Russia. He further suggested that the prime minister had repeatedly sent out “congratulatory messages” despite being snubbed by the American side.
His rant presented in pointers also claimed, Modi had cancelled the Finance Minister’s visit to the US, skipped Sharm el-Sheikh and failed to “contradict” Trump on Operation Sindoor.
Rahul Gandhi was prompted to pen the incendiary tweet online by Trump’s suggestion earlier this week that PM Modi had assured him India would stop buying Russian oil. “I was not happy that India was buying oil,” he told reporters at the White House. Hailing it as a “big step,” the POTUS added, “[PM Narendra Modi] assured me today that they will not be buying oil from Russia… Now we’re going to get China to do the same thing.”
In the same breath, the MAGA leader insisted that Modi was his friend, and they shared a “great relationship.”
Who is Mary Millben?
The American singer, actress and media personality has emerged as a consistent performer over numerous US governmental eras under Presidents George W Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump (twice) and Joe Biden. Having grown up in Oklahoma, the recording artist has long synonymously equated her identity with the US national anthem, given her streak of performances at campaigns and other such official events.
As of October 17, Millben celebrated five years since her iconic performance of the Hindu hymn “Om Jai Jagdish Hare,” which originally aired during the Diwali 2020 season. A press release marking the occasion announced that her musical set was being re-released on October 20 across the singer’s SNS accounts.
“It bring me great joy to re-air this special performance at a time when our world is experiencing a true battle of light bs darkness and good vs evil,” she said in a statement. “Inside all of us is a light the world needs to see and feel. We can all be bearers of light – spreading joy and love, inspiring hope and peace.”
Stepping in as a cultural ambassador for the US, she even served as a White House appointee under former US President George W Bush. Introducing herself as a daughter of retired ministers in a recent statement, she disclosed that her singing roots originated in the African American church, which ultimately shaped her faith.
“As a Christian woman, faith and worship of God are the foundation of my life. As an advocate for religious freedom, I appreciate the diverse ways people worship across the world,” she said. “‘Om Jai Jagdish Hare,’ a beautiful Hindu hymn commonly sung during Diwali and in Indian households across the world, is a song of worship and celebration. This hymn continues to move me and deepen my love for Indian culture.”
She even confessed that it was her mother, Reverend Althea Millben, who encouraged her to consider recording and performing the Hindu aarti in 2022.
Millben was snapped performing the American national anthem at the India vs US T20 World Cup match in New York earlier this year, and so, was celebrated as the first American artist to perform for a live ICC/T20 World Cup match.
She even belted out the Indian National Anthem during Modi’s 2023 state visit to Washington DC hosted by then-President Joe Biden First Lady Jill Biden. In 2022, she became the first American and African American artist to be invited to India’s Independence Day celebrations.
The Helen Hayes Award Nominee leads her own company JMDE Enterprises, Incorporated, and has taken the stage across platforms, including the Republican National Convention and the Super Bowl Halftime Show with Bruce Springsteen.
