Washington, D.C., September 2(HS): California Governor Gavin Newsom took a pointed jab at President Donald Trump amid escalating tensions over Trump’s plans to deploy the National Guard to Chicago to combat crime and illegal immigration. Newsom shared a viral video on social media showing a light-hearted and friendly interaction between Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin. The video depicts Modi, Putin, and Xi walking hand-in-hand and sharing laughs, a stark contrast to the turmoil surrounding Trump’s hardline tactics.

Newsom’s post ironically reassured the public by saying, But have no fear, Trump is sending the Guard to Chicago, referencing the President’s controversial proposal. Trump recently hinted at sending nearly 5,000 troops to major Democratic-run cities like Chicago and New York following deployments in Los Angeles and Washington, which sparked sharp criticism from Democratic leaders who regarded the move as militarization of American cities.

The SCO summit itself highlighted geopolitical tensions, as India and China, two major buyers of Russian oil, met under strained global trade conditions exacerbated by Trump’s tariff impositions on India, which New Delhi deemed unfair. Modi’s warm engagement with Putin and Xi sent a diplomatic signal of multipolarity and strategic positioning amid rising US trade pressures and ongoing global conflict dynamics.

The exchange at Tianjin underscored a broader geopolitical narrative where U.S. domestic policy clashes with international diplomacy and power rebalancing among major global players at forums like the SCO. As Trump brandishes military actions on the domestic front, leaders like Modi, Putin, and Xi present a contrasting image of cooperation and alliance building on the world stage.

Meanwhile, Democratic officials in the U.S. continue to denounce Trump’s deployments, warning that such actions risk escalating tensions in already fragile urban communities and serve political motives beyond public safety.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar