NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump met at the White House on Friday, where they greeted each other with handshake and hug.
While welcoming PM Modi, Trump said, “We missed you, we missed you a lot.” Modi responded, “It’s great to see you again.”
Trump introduced Modi to US officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US department of government efficiency (DOGE) head Elon Musk.
Trump also pulled chair for PM Modi during meeting at White House.
White House deputy chief of staff Dan Scavino shared a video of Modi and Trump on X. He wrote, “Behind Scenes in the West Wing lobby — Trump welcomes Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”
The Indian delegation, including external affairs minister S Jaishankar, national security advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, and India’s ambassador to the US Vinay Mohan Kwatra, arrived at the White House soon after PM Modi.
‘He is a special man’
Later at a news conference, Trump and Modi spoke about their long friendship and past meetings.
Trump said, “I am thrilled to welcome my friend Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India back to the White House.” He added, “He is a special man.”
During the joint press conference, Trump also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a “tougher negotiator” than him. “He (PM Narendra Modi) is a much tougher negotiator than me and he is a much better negotiator than me. There is not even a contest,” Trump said at the press conference.
Trump also said he shares a “special bond” with Modi and India. However, he warned that India would not be exempt from the higher tariffs that the US has started imposing on its trade partners.
Also read: ‘PM Modi is a much tougher negotiator than me, not even a contest,’ says Trump
Before Modi’s arrival, Indian flags were put up at the White House. PM Modi is among the first world leaders to visit the US after Trump’s inauguration. He was invited within three weeks of the new administration taking office.
Since November 2024, Modi and Trump have spoken on the phone twice. EAM S Jaishankar attended Trump’s inauguration in January as PM Modi’s Special Envoy. During the visit, Jaishankar met US secretary of state Marco Rubio and took part in the QUAD foreign ministers’ meeting in January 2025.
Before meeting Trump at the White House, Modi held bilateral talks with US national security advisor Mike Waltz, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Indian-origin entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, and US Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard.
Modi arrived in the US on Wednesday (local time) at Trump’s invitation. He traveled from France after completing a three-day visit there. During his time in France, Modi met US Vice President JD Vance on Tuesday (local time).
India and the US launched a “strategic partnership” in 2005. Their relations were elevated to a Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership during Trump’s visit to India in February 2020.