 "Prime Minister Narendra Modi with US President Donald Trump. Source: Potus")
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump met at the White House on Friday (February 14).
The two leaders have shared a special political camaraderie, marked by mutual admiration and public displays of warmth for a while. From the ‘Howdy, Modi!’ event in Houston to their interactions on the global stage, Trump, during his first term, had often heaped praise on Modi.
It was no different on Friday. Trump once again expressed his appreciation for PM Modi, welcoming him with a handshake, a hug, and a string of glowing remarks.
Here are seven things Trump has said about the Indian Prime Minister:
‘We missed you a lot’
Trump, welcoming the Indian leader, said, “We missed you, we missed you a lot.” Modi responded, “It’s great to see you again.”
‘A special man’
While talking to the media, Trump said that he is “thrilled” to welcome his friend PM Modi to the US. “He is a special man,” the US President said, adding that, “The relationship with India, PM Modi has never been better.”
During the meeting, Trump introduced Modi to his top US officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Elon Musk, the billionaire heading the US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
The Indian delegation, which included External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, and India’s Ambassador to the US, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, arrived at the White House shortly after PM Modi.
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View All‘A great friend for a long time’
Trump, saying that it has been a “great honour” to host PM Modi at the White House, and that Modi has been “a great friend of mine for a long time. We have had a wonderful relationship and we kept the relationship during our 4 year period…We have just started up again,” he said.
‘Tougher negotiator…not even a contest’
During the leaders’ joint press conference, Trump said about the PM, “He is a much tougher negotiator than me, and he is a much better negotiator than me. There is not even a contest.”
The comments came just hours after the Republican leader said that New Delhi levies heavy tariffs on American imports. He was announcing reciprocal tariffs on allies and adversaries alike.
‘Everybody talks about him’
During the press conference, Trump went on to praise PM Modi, saying he is doing a “really great job in India and everybody talks about him.”
‘He’s a great leader’
Trump has often shown his appreciation for PM Modi’s leadership of the massive country of India. This time was no different.
The US President lauded the PM, saying, “He’s a great leader”.
‘Mr. Prime Minister, you are great’
Trump presented PM Modi with a book titled “Our Journey Together”. This 320-page book was published in December 2021, when Trump had left office after completing his first term.
The book is a collection of photographs from key moments of his first presidency.
In the book presented to PM Modi, Trump had written, “Mr. Prime Minister, You Are Great.”
With inputs from agencies