 "‘Masterclass for others:’ US journalist in awe of PM Modi’s negotiation style with Trump")
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on his way back home after his first meeting with Donald Trump since his January 20 inauguration, and the American media can’t help lauding his “masterclass” negotiations.
A post on X by Will Ripley, a journalist affiliated with broadcaster CNN, is now making rounds on internet, where he seems to be suggesting that other global leaders should take a leaf out of Modi’s playbook to handle talks with Trump.
Indian Prime Minister Modi understood the assignment in his 8th meeting with President Trump. It could've been bad. Modi was in DC on the same day Trump announced dreaded reciprocal tariffs. Despite trade friction, both sides walked away with deliverables on a potential trade… pic.twitter.com/73xjKfVP6w
— Will Ripley (@willripleyCNN) February 14, 2025
“Indian Prime Minister Modi understood the assignment in his 8th meeting with President Trump. It could’ve been bad. Modi was in DC on the same day Trump announced dreaded reciprocal tariffs. Despite trade friction, both sides walked away with deliverables on a potential trade deal, energy, military etc. ‘MIGA’ (Make India Great Again) + MAGA = MEGA is very clever branding that resonates with Trump. Other leaders, take note,” wrote Ripley on X.
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View All‘This is a masterclass for other leaders’
During the live broadcast, the journalist referred to Trump’s meetings with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and PM Modi, saying, “This is a masterclass for other leaders around the world to know how to walk into a negotiation with President Trump.”
Will Ripley added that Trump’s announcement of the reciprocal tariff regime, which was made just a few hours ahead of his meeting with Modi, could potentially put the Indian side in a fix but in the end, the best possible outcomes were announced.
“Whether prime minister Modi knew or was expecting that President Trump would make this reciprocal tariff announcement, which could potentially cause Modi to lose a lot of face if he went back to India without making significant progress, but at the end of this meeting, they announced essentially the best possible outcome for the two sides,” he said.
Trump’s reciprocal tariff regime
Sticking to one of his campaign pledges, Trump on Thursday (February 13) pushed for a more balanced trade, instructing agencies to investigate a plan for new reciprocal tariffs to boost the country’s revenue, reported CNN.
“They charge us a tax or tariff and we charge them the exact same,” Trump told the media in the Oval Office before signing the “Fair and Reciprocal Plan.” “Nobody knows what that number is unless you go by country.”
Trump also singled out India at a press conference at the White House.
“India has more tariffs than nearly any other country,” Potus said while singing the executive order. “We will charge them no more, no less. They charge the US tax or tariff, and we will charge them the exact tax and tariff, very simple.”
(With inputs from agencies)
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