Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has expressed high regard for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, referring to him as a “fantastic man.” Trump made these comments on Tuesday, confirming that he would be meeting PM Modi next week during the latter’s visit to the United States.
At a campaign event, Trump highlighted his admiration for Modi, stating, “He happens to be coming to meet me next week, and Modi, he’s fantastic. A lot of these leaders are fantastic.” He further acknowledged the sharpness and strategic capabilities of global leaders, noting, “These people are the sharpest people. They’re at the top of their game.”
Trump went on to discuss the competitive nature of international trade, specifically mentioning India, Brazil, and China. He characterized China as “the toughest of all” but emphasised his administration’s approach to handling trade issues with the country through tariffs.
During his address, Trump outlined his vision for trade policies under his potential future administration. He proposed a reciprocal trade policy, stating, “If anybody charges us 10 cents, if they charge us USD 2, if they charge us 100 per cent, 250 per cent, we charge them the same thing.” He framed this approach as a way to potentially restore free trade and balance the scales in international commerce.
Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to visit the US from September 21 to 23. His itinerary includes attendance at the annual Quad Summit hosted by US President Joe Biden in Delaware and addressing the ‘Summit of the Future’ at the United Nations General Assembly. Additionally, he will meet with the Indian community in New York on September 22.
This upcoming meeting between Modi and Trump marks their first encounter since February 2020, when Trump visited India and participated in the ‘Namaste Trump’ event in Ahmedabad, which celebrated the opening of the world’s largest cricket stadium. Modi also had significant engagements during his last visit to the US in 2019, including the “Howdy, Modi!” rally in Texas.
As both leaders prepare for their meeting, the anticipation is building around the discussions that will shape India-US relations moving forward. Trump’s praise for Modi reflects the importance of collaboration between the two nations, particularly in trade and strategic initiatives.