Hours after President Trump paved the way in which for upending the USA’ commerce relationship with India with broad “reciprocal” tariffs, he and Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered a united entrance throughout a information convention on Thursday on the White Home.
Mr. Modi turned the newest head of state to hunt to placate an more and more power-flexing Mr. Trump by making an attempt to accommodate his calls for — whilst Mr. Trump’s promised tariffs hung over the White Home assembly. Mr. Modi heaped reward on Mr. Trump, utilizing his motto “Make America Nice Once more” in English, regardless of principally talking via a translator, and making use of the motto to India. “Make India Nice Once more,” Mr. Modi crowed.
The nice and cozy greetings additionally prolonged to Elon Musk, the fixed Trump companion barreling via the federal authorities as the top of an initiative to reshape and reduce down the federal authorities: The 2 had a gathering and picture op. Mr. Musk, the wealthiest man on this planet, owns plenty of firms, together with Starlink, a high-speed web service, which have sought to make an entry in India.
All of the flattery hid plenty of tensions between the 2 nations, together with on two of Mr. Trump’s signature points, commerce and immigration. Mr. Trump hinted on the greatest thorn when he stated on the information convention that the USA had a virtually $100 billion commerce deficit with India, although he inflated the quantity — in 2024, the determine was almost $50 billion.
Simply hours earlier, Mr. Trump had directed his advisers to devise new tariff levels for nations around the globe that have in mind a spread of commerce boundaries and different financial approaches adopted by America’s buying and selling companions. India is among the many nations that might face notably vital penalties from the tariffs.
On the information convention, Mr. Trump stated that he had toyed with that concept throughout his first time period, and famous that he couldn’t get India to decrease tariffs in opposition to the USA then. Now, “we’re simply going to say, ‘no matter you cost, we cost,’” Mr. Trump stated.
“I believe that’s truthful for the individuals of the USA,” Mr. Trump stated. “And I believe it’s really truthful for India.”
Regardless of the looming financial punishment, Mr. Modi opened his remarks by saying he was specializing in doubling bilateral commerce to $500 billion by 2030 and “concluding very quickly a mutually helpful commerce settlement” with the USA.
Mr. Modi additionally stated that India and the USA would create a framework for protection cooperation for the following decade and added that the 2 nations would additionally collaborate to develop semiconductors, quantum know-how and synthetic intelligence.
Even on a problem that has infuriated a few of his constituents in India, Mr. Modi sought to placate Mr. Trump. At one level, Mr. Modi was requested a few U.S. navy airplane full of migrants from India that the USA sent to the Indian state of Punjab final week.
Video posted by a high U.S. border official confirmed migrants in shackles, and prompted outrage in India.
Mr. Modi made no acknowledgment of that. “We’re of the opinion that anyone who enters one other nation illegally, they’ve completely no proper to be in that nation,” he stated.
Earlier within the afternoon, Mr. Trump met with Mr. Modi within the Oval Workplace, joined by among the president’s cupboard secretaries. The 2 leaders sat in chairs, fielding questions from reporters.
Mr. Modi and Mr. Trump have loved a usually pleasant relationship. Mr. Modi welcomed Mr. Trump with an infinite rally throughout a presidential go to to India throughout Mr. Trump’s first time period.
Earlier than Mr. Trump and Mr. Modi met, the Indian prime minister sat down with Mr. Musk.
Mr. Modi shared images on Mr. Musk’s social media website, X, that underscored Mr. Musk’s energy inside the Trump administration: The billionaire sat in entrance of an American flag subsequent to the prime minister and the Indian flag, the form of pose often struck by a head of state and that Mr. Trump himself has assumed in latest weeks. Mr. Musk was accompanied by Shivon Zilis, who’s a longtime adviser and the mom to a few of his kids, in addition to three of his kids, who appeared to alternate presents with Mr. Modi.
On the information convention, Mr. Modi stated he had identified Mr. Musk for a while.
It was Mr. Trump’s fourth go to from a overseas chief in speedy succession prior to now few weeks, as he approaches overseas coverage with an expansionist mind-set and a agency want to push different nations to reimburse the USA for its navy spending. He had already met with the leaders of Israel, Japan and Jordan.
Theodore Schleifer contributed reporting.
