US President Donald Trump said he is a strong admirer of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and reaffirmed close ties between the United States and India during a surprise live video call at an event in New Delhi marking the 250th anniversary of American independence.
Trump addressed the gathering virtually, speaking with US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, who attended the event.
In a post on X, Ambassador Sergio Gor quoted Trump as saying: “I love Prime Minister Modi. We’ve never been closer to India. I’m a big, big fan of Prime Minister Modi.”
During the call, Trump praised Modi and emphasized the growing partnership between the two nations.
“I just want to say hello to everybody. I love the Prime Minister. PM Modi is great; he is my friend,” Trump said.
Addressing the Indian audience, he added that the United States stands firmly with India and highlighted America’s strong economic performance.
“Anything India wants, they will get. I am a big, big fan of Prime Minister Modi,” he said.
Trump concluded by saying it was an honour to greet Modi and express his admiration for him.
The remarks came during Rubio’s four-day visit to India, which is focused on strengthening bilateral ties and advancing discussions on a broader trade agreement between the two countries.
Speaking at a joint media briefing with Jaishankar earlier in the day, Rubio said negotiations had made significant progress and expressed confidence that both sides would reach a sustainable and mutually beneficial trade agreement.