Hours after President Trump paved the way in which for upending the US’ 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 most recent head of state to hunt to placate an more and more power-flexing Mr. Trump by attempting 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 largely talking by way of 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 by way of the federal authorities as the top of an initiative to reshape and lower down the federal authorities: The 2 had a gathering and picture op. Mr. Musk, the wealthiest man on this planet, owns numerous firms, together with Starlink, a high-speed web service, which have sought to make an entry in India.
All of the flattery hid numerous tensions between the 2 nations, together with on two of Mr. Trump’s signature points, commerce and immigration. Mr. Trump hinted on the largest thorn when he mentioned on the information convention that the US had a virtually $100 billion commerce deficit with India, although he inflated the quantity — in 2024, the determine was practically $50 billion.
Simply hours earlier, Mr. Trump had directed his advisers to devise new tariff ranges for international locations world wide that keep in mind a spread of commerce limitations and different financial approaches adopted by America’s buying and selling companions. India is among the many nations that would face significantly important penalties from the tariffs.
On the information convention, Mr. Trump mentioned that he had toyed with that concept throughout his first time period, and famous that he couldn’t get India to decrease tariffs towards the US then. Now, “we’re simply going to say, ‘no matter you cost, we cost,’” Mr. Trump mentioned.
“I feel that’s honest for the individuals of the US,” Mr. Trump mentioned. “And I feel it’s truly honest 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 useful commerce settlement” with the US.
Mr. Modi additionally mentioned that India and the US would create a framework for protection cooperation for the subsequent decade and added that the 2 international locations would additionally collaborate to develop semiconductors, quantum know-how and synthetic intelligence.
Even on a difficulty 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 aircraft stuffed with migrants from India that the US despatched 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 mentioned.
Earlier within the afternoon, Mr. Trump met with Mr. Modi within the Oval Workplace, joined by a few of 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 unlimited 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 sort of pose often struck by a head of state and that Mr. Trump himself has assumed in current weeks. Mr. Musk was accompanied by Shivon Zilis, who’s a longtime adviser and the mom to a few of his youngsters, in addition to three of his youngsters, who appeared to trade items with Mr. Modi.
On the information convention, Mr. Modi mentioned he had recognized Mr. Musk for a while.
It was Mr. Trump’s fourth go to from a international chief in speedy succession prior to now few weeks, as he approaches international coverage with an expansionist mind-set and a agency want to push different international locations to reimburse the US for its navy spending. He had already met with the leaders of Israel, Japan and Jordan.
Theodore Schleifer contributed reporting.
