Trump’s Claims Had No Basis In Reality, Modi Ignores Him

India-West News Desk

NEW YORK, NY – Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump recently claimed he was set to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during Modi’s visit to the U.S. However, the meeting did not materialize, leading critics to say that it was once again Trump stating whatever he wanted without any basis in reality. Democrat Kamala Harris and her campaign made no claims of the sort.

Trump had publicly announced during a rally in Michigan that the “fantastic” Modi would be meeting with him, but New Delhi opted to avoid scheduling a meeting between the Indian Prime Minister and any U.S. presidential candidates, aiming to preserve bipartisan support in the U.S. Congress for India-U.S. relations. By steering clear of political involvement in the U.S. elections, India sought to prevent any controversy that could undermine its growing ties with the U.S.

Modi refrained from engaging with the former president despite their past camaraderie. This distancing, parts of the media have speculated might have come after Trump’s recent criticisms of India, where he labeled the country a “big abuser” in trade relations. While Trump did not elaborate on the comment, it stirred concerns about his stance on India, particularly given his once strong ties with Modi.

Modi has chosen to remain silent on Trump’s remarks. Modi had previously expressed concern for Trump after a shooting incident at a Pennsylvania rally in July, posting a message of solidarity on X. However, when a second attempt on Trump’s life occurred, Modi offered no public comment.

The shift is particularly striking given Modi’s vocal support for Trump during his presidency. In 2019, at the high-profile “Howdy, Modi” event in Houston, Modi famously endorsed Trump’s re-election with the slogan “Abki baar, Trump sarkar.” It was considered a rare misstep by the Indian leader who has since corrected his ties with the Biden White House.