MaNDATE CORRESPONDENT
new delhi, May 24
US President Donald Trump on Sunday spoke warmly about India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a telephonic interaction at an event celebrating 250 years of American Independence held at Bharat Mandapam. Addressing the gathering through a speakerphone conversation with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump described Modi as a close friend and said relations between India and the United States had “never been closer”.
The interaction took place during a special event organised in New Delhi to commemorate the milestone anniversary of American independence and strengthen people-to-people and diplomatic ties between the two countries. Trump’s remarks came at a time when Rubio is on a four-day visit to India aimed at reinforcing strategic cooperation and addressing areas of concern in bilateral relations.
During the call, Trump expressed strong admiration for India and the Indian Prime Minister, saying he deeply valued the relationship between the two democracies. Speaking directly to the audience gathered at the venue, he said, “I love India…I just want to say hello to everybody. I love the Prime Minister. PM Modi is great, he is my friend.”
The US President also assured continued American support for India and emphasised his personal commitment to strengthening ties between the two countries. He stated that India could rely on the United States whenever needed and praised the current state of the American economy while highlighting opportunities for bilateral cooperation.
“India can count on me 100 per cent. If they ever need help, they know where to call. They call right here. We are doing well. We are setting records. We have a record economy, a record stock market and anything India wants to get. I am a big fan of Prime Minister Modi,” Trump said during the interaction.
Trump also used the occasion to praise Marco Rubio, who is currently leading diplomatic engagements in India. Referring to Rubio’s role as America’s top diplomat, Trump described him as one of the finest leaders to hold the office of Secretary of State.
“He’s going down as the greatest Secretary of State in the history of the US… Say hello to Prime Minister Modi and let him know I’m a big fan,” Trump remarked while addressing Rubio over the phone.
Rubio’s visit to India is being viewed as an important diplomatic engagement aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation in key sectors such as defence, trade, energy, technology and strategic security. His visit also comes amid efforts by both nations to address certain strains that had emerged in specific policy areas while continuing to expand broader strategic collaboration.
During his visit, Rubio met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday and held discussions on a range of bilateral and global issues. On Sunday, he also met External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval. The meetings focused on strengthening cooperation in defence partnerships, Indo-Pacific security, economic engagement and energy collaboration, according to diplomatic sources.
Speaking at the New Delhi event, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor also highlighted the personal rapport between Trump and Modi, describing it as an important foundation of the India-US relationship. Gor stated that whenever he interacted with Trump, the US President frequently enquired about Prime Minister Modi.
“Every time I get to talk to President Trump, one of the first questions the President will ask is, how is my friend, the Prime Minister doing? And that is something that is important to convey because this relationship is not new,” Gor said during his address.
The ambassador further stressed that ties between India and the United States have continued to grow steadily over the years through increased diplomatic engagement, economic cooperation and strategic partnerships. He also noted that the US Embassy had facilitated a record-breaking delegation to India during the spring season as part of ongoing efforts to deepen bilateral ties.
“I’m especially proud that this spring our embassy brought a record-breaking delegation, which will continue over the weeks and months ahead, as we continue our work here in India,” Gor added.
Relations between India and the United States have significantly expanded over the past decade, with both countries increasingly viewing each other as critical strategic partners in the Indo-Pacific region. Cooperation has strengthened across defence procurement, technology sharing, trade, clean energy, counterterrorism and regional security issues.
The personal chemistry between Donald Trump and Narendra Modi has often been highlighted during major bilateral engagements, including large public events held in both India and the United States during Trump’s earlier presidency. Political observers believe such personal equations have contributed to maintaining strong diplomatic momentum between the two countries despite differences on certain trade and policy matters.
Trump’s latest remarks are expected to reinforce the perception of continued warmth in India-US relations at a time when both countries are seeking to expand strategic cooperation amid changing global geopolitical dynamics. Rubio’s ongoing visit and the high-level interactions in New Delhi are also being seen as part of broader efforts to further strengthen the partnership between the world’s two largest democracies.
