Trump’s Unusual Ad Campaign Hits New Delhi

In New Delhi’s bustling streets, auto-rickshaws serve as unexpected carriers of a new message featuring U.S. President Donald Trump. A slogan beneath his image states, “Happy Birthday America!” Over the recent weeks, about 100 auto-rickshaws in the city have displayed large images of Trump alongside the Statue of Liberty.

While the city’s three-wheelers are usually adorned with advertisements for fertility clinics, English courses, and herbal solutions, the American-themed ads are a distinctive sight. This advertising effort was introduced last month by Sergio Gor, the U.S. ambassador to India, as part of a larger drive to honor the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence. Celebrations will include cultural events and promotional activities in various countries.

Freedom is on the move … literally!

The U.S. Embassy promoted this campaign on social media, encouraging local residents to spot the uniquely branded rickshaws, noting, “Catch them if you can — they’ll be popping up all over Delhi soon.”

Washington aims to mend relations with India, which were strained by Trump’s tariff policies that increased duties on several Indian goods. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to visit New Delhi this weekend as part of these efforts.

Despite the eye-catching campaign, it resonates little with some auto-rickshaw drivers. Ganesh Kumar, who found a Trump poster on his vehicle, initially refused participation.

Piyush Nagpal / AP

Ganesh Kumar shared, “I told them I didn’t want it.” He eventually consented after receiving an unlikely incentive: a packet of tea from the organizers. Meanwhile, another driver, Pradeep Kumar, agreed to use the ad to cover his vehicle’s worn-out canopy.

When asked about the advertisement’s meaning, Kumar stated simply, “I know he is Trump. Don’t know much other than that.”