US Envoy Takes Dig at Indian TV News, Says Late-Night Shows Get ‘Crazier’

EC News Desk
NEW DELHI: US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor has taken a pointed dig at Indian television news channels on 22 August 2026, saying their late-night programmes often become increasingly chaotic, with some reports going far beyond what he had previously considered America’s “fake news” problem.

Gor made the remarks while speaking at an event organised by a financial newspaper in New Delhi. Recalling his experience of watching Indian television news, the US envoy said he enjoyed watching the programmes but found their format increasingly dramatic as the evening progressed.

“The later it gets, the crazier the shows become,” Gor said. He described how evening programmes often feature several people arguing simultaneously, with even more participants joining later at night, making it difficult to hear any individual speaker.

The ambassador said he had earlier believed that misinformation was a serious problem in the United States. However, his experience of Indian television had surprised him. “I used to think we had a fake news problem back home in America,” he said, adding that some reports broadcast in India were “nowhere close to the mark”.

His comments triggered reactions on social media, with some users criticising the quality of television news debates and describing the media as a weakened “fourth pillar” of Indian democracy.

G7 Meeting and the ‘No Questions’ Request
Gor also spoke about an unusual behind-the-scenes episode surrounding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in France on June 17.

According to Gor, India’s Ministry of External Affairs had requested that the media be allowed to attend the interaction but without asking questions. He said the request was conveyed to Trump before the meeting and the US President initially agreed.

However, after Modi and Trump completed their initial remarks, Trump turned towards the media and asked, “Any questions?” Gor said the moment effectively opened the interaction to the press and eventually resulted in a roughly 45-minute media session.

Recalling a conversation with Trump before the meeting, Gor said the US President had asked what the Indian side was likely to raise and whether it had any specific requests. Gor told him that the Indian side preferred the media to be present without questions. The remarks have since drawn political and public attention.

Questions Over Republic TV Episode
Saurav Das, co-convener of Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP), has separately sought clarification from the government over an alleged intervention involving Republic TV editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami.

Das questioned whether Ambassador Gor had contacted a senior Union minister regarding a prime-time programme alleging links between CJP and what it described as “Deep State America”. He claimed that the programme and related clips were removed by the following morning.

Das called on the government to clarify whether any such communication took place and, if so, which minister had spoken to the US ambassador. He also questioned Goswami over the alleged influence.
The allegations have not been independently established.

Government Calls Media Arrangements Routine
Government sources on Monday described discussions over media arrangements for leaders’ public appearances as routine and part of established protocol surrounding high-level visits.

Responding to Gor’s comments about the media arrangements ahead of the Modi-Trump meeting, a government source said consultations regarding public appearances were normal practice before any VVIP visit.

“Discussions regarding arrangements for public appearances of leaders are normal practice ahead of any VVIP visit,” the source said.

Gor’s remarks have nevertheless brought renewed attention to the contrasting approaches to television news, media access and political communication in India and the United States.