Washington DC [US]: United States President Donald Trump on Thursday lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi, describing him as “a great man” and “a friend,” while hinting at a possible visit to India next year amid ongoing trade discussions between the two countries.
Speaking to reporters at the White House after unveiling a new initiative to reduce the prices of weight-loss drugs, Trump said his talks with PM Modi were “going great.”
“He (PM Modi) has largely stopped buying from Russia. He is a friend of mine, and we speak. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a great man. He wants me to visit India — and we’ll figure that out. I will go… Prime Minister Modi is a great man, and I will be going,” Trump said.
When asked if he planned to travel to India next year, Trump replied, “It could be, yes.”
The comments come months after The New York Times reported in August that Trump had dropped plans to attend the Quad Summit in India following Washington’s decision to impose steep tariffs. The report, titled “The Nobel Prize and a Testy Phone Call: How the Trump-Modi Relationship Unravelled,” cited sources who said Trump had earlier assured Modi of his attendance before changing course.
During Thursday’s briefing, the event was briefly paused when a company representative fainted. “During the Most Favoured Nations Oval Office Announcement, a representative fainted. The White House Medical Unit quickly responded, and the gentleman is okay. The press conference will resume shortly,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt informed.
Trump’s remarks come amid ongoing trade talks between India and the US after Washington imposed a 50% tariff — including an additional 25% duty — over India’s continued purchase of Russian oil.
Reaffirming Trump’s commitment to bilateral ties, Leavitt said earlier this week, “The President feels very strongly about the India-US relationship. A few weeks ago, he spoke to Prime Minister Modi directly during Diwali celebrations in the Oval Office with senior Indian-American officials.”
Trump has also claimed that India has significantly reduced its imports of Russian oil, calling New Delhi “very good” on the issue during his Asia tour. He said Modi had assured him that India would curb or halt crude purchases from Moscow.
His comments reflect the administration’s ongoing effort to economically isolate Russia through sanctions and energy restrictions amid the Ukraine war.
Responding to Trump’s statements, India’s Ministry of External Affairs reiterated that New Delhi’s energy decisions are guided by national interests.
“India is a significant importer of oil and gas. It remains our priority to safeguard consumer interests in a volatile energy market. Our import policies are guided by this objective,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.
He added that India’s energy strategy focuses on ensuring stable prices and secure supplies through diversified sources. “With the US, we have consistently expanded energy cooperation over the past decade, and discussions to deepen this partnership are ongoing,” he said.
