Politics

SHW Partners Lists Eight Calls Between White House and India in May‑June 2025

By Divya A

American lobbying firm SHW Partners LLC, led by former Trump aide Jason Miller, filed under the U.S. Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) that it arranged eight phone calls between senior White House officials and the Indian government in May and June 2025 to discuss “India‑US relations.” The firm, signed by the Indian Embassy in Washington in April 2025, had its contract renewed for another year in April. The contract was terminated on June 23 after Miller joined the Trump administration as a “special government employee.”

FARA requires agents of foreign principals engaged in political activities to disclose their relationships, activities and compensation. SHW Partners listed that in May, before Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to India, calls were set up between the Indian side and senior White House officials including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Deputy National Security Adviser Michael Needham and Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Gene Lange. In June, after Rubio’s visit, calls involved the Indian side and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, Assistant to the President for Policy Walker Barrett and Director of the White House Office of Communications Steven Cheung.

The firm also reported two “embassy events” with Rubio on May 23 and 24. Rubio was in India from May 23 to May 26 and attended the America @250 events hosted by the U.S. Embassy. Miller was also in New Delhi at that time.

The contract, signed by the Indian Embassy in Washington, provided a monthly payout of $150,000. The scope of work included “strategic counsel, tactical planning and government relations assistance on policy matters before the U.S. government, the U.S. Congress, state governments, academic institutions, think tanks, and other relevant stakeholders,” according to the documents.

Following Trump’s re‑election, the Indian Embassy hired two major lobbying firms led by individuals close to the President. The other firm, Mercury Public Affairs, was signed at a monthly retainership of $75,000 and included Bryan Lanza, communications director for Trump’s transition team, in its core team. Susie Wiles, now Trump’s Chief of Staff, was also a registered lobbyist with the firm until late 2024. Mercury’s filings list a post on X by Trump greeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi on becoming India’s longest‑serving Prime Minister in June of this year, among other items.