The much-anticipated meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his “dear friend” Donald Trump was expected to be premium on optics. It didn’t disappoint. A warm hug was followed by a firm handshake as PM Modi entered the White House, but the chill was palpable following the US President’s announcement of sweeping reciprocal tariffs. That the temperature was 1 degree in Washington DC didn’t help the cause.
From the moment the Prime Minister landed in the United States, everything seemed fluid. At Blair House, where PM Modi stayed, the US flag was replaced with the tricolour in a rare gesture for a visiting foreign leader. Several key meetings with top Trump administration officials were also lined up, from tech titan Elon Musk to US National Security Adviser Michael Waltz.
However, even as Trump’s promised tariffs hung over the meeting, the camaraderie between the two leaders was on full display. Trump greeted PM Modi with a hug and a handshake, which lasted a few seconds, before lavishing praise on his guest.
“We missed you, we missed you a lot… It’s great to see you again,” Trump said before introducing the Prime Minister to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Elon Musk and other officials. In a rare gesture, one which has already taken over social media, Trump pulled a chair for PM Modi as the two leaders sat down for their bilateral.
The mutual admiration between the two leaders spilled on to the joint press briefing as well. The Prime Minister borrowed Trump’s “MAGA” (Make America Great Again) slogan to give his own twist to it.
Known for his love for acronyms back home, PM Modi didn’t disappoint the Americans. “President Trump often talks about MAGA. In India, we are working towards a Viksit Bharat, which in the American context translates into MIGA (Make India Great Again). When US and India work together, this MAGA plus MIGA becomes a ‘MEGA’ partnership for prosperity,” the Prime Minister said.
Not one to hold back, Trump reciprocated by admiring the “negotiating” skills of the Prime Minister. “He is a much tougher negotiator than me, and he is a much better negotiator than me. There is not even a contest,” Trump said.
The exchange and the strong optics were reminiscent of the warm relations the leaders enjoyed during Trump’s first term. It was a hark back to the ‘Namaste Trump!’ and ‘Howdy, Modi!’ days – the rallies held in Ahmedabad and Houston.
However, beneath the surface of mutual admiration and praise for each other, lay the hard realities of trade and tariffs.
Hours before Trump’s meeting with his “great friend for a long time”, the US President announced sweeping reciprocal tariffs – this time not sparing India. Speaking with reporters, Trump said India was “at the top of the pack” when it comes to tariffs.
He also raked up the topic at the joint press briefing. With PM Modi standing by his side, an unruffled Trump said in his own bellicose style, “Whatever India charges, we charge them. So, frankly, it no longer matters to us that much what they charge.”
The US move is likely to jack up the prices of textiles, pharmaceutical products, and agricultural exports. The US President underscored the need for a “certain level-playing field”.
“Today, the US trade deficit with India is almost USD 100 billion, and Prime Minister Modi and I have agreed that we will be negotiating to address the long-running disparities,” Trump said at the briefing.
While the visit might have been witness to Trump’s mix of praise and pressure on India, PM Modi underscored the key takeaway as he departed for India: “Adding significant momentum to the India-USA friendship”.