A grand celebration marking 250 years of American independence in New Delhi took an unexpected turn when US President Donald Trump joined the event through a surprise live phone call. During the interaction, Trump openly praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling him a close friend while reaffirming the strengthening ties between India and the United States.
The event was attended by senior officials including US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. Trump’s unexpected appearance quickly became the highlight of the evening as he spoke warmly about India and Modi.
“I love the Prime Minister. PM Modi is great; he is my friend,” Trump said during the call, drawing attention from guests present at the celebration. He further added, “We have never been closer to India, and India can count on me and our country 100 per cent.”
Trump also praised India’s growing importance globally and spoke about America’s economic strength during his remarks. “Anything India wants, they will get. I am a big, big fan of Prime Minister Modi,” he said while addressing the gathering.
Before ending the interaction, Trump once again expressed admiration for the Indian Prime Minister, stating, “It’s an honour to talk and say hello to Prime Minister Modi and let him know I am a big fan.”
Following the event, Ambassador Sergio Gor shared details of the conversation on social media. In one of his posts, he revealed that Trump personally conveyed his appreciation for Modi and highlighted the close relationship between the two nations. Gor also described the event as a celebration of freedom, innovation, and the enduring partnership shared by India and the United States.
Trump’s remarks came during Marco Rubio’s ongoing four-day visit to India, which is being viewed as an important diplomatic effort to strengthen trade and economic cooperation between the two countries. The visit follows months of discussions and disagreements over tariffs and trade-related matters.
During his India trip, Rubio also extended an invitation from Trump for Prime Minister Modi to visit the White House. Political observers believe the visit is aimed at rebuilding confidence in bilateral relations and advancing negotiations on a broader trade agreement.
Speaking alongside External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar earlier in the day, Rubio expressed optimism regarding the discussions. “We’ve made tremendous progress,” Rubio said, adding that both sides were working toward a trade agreement that would be “beneficial to both countries” while protecting their national interests.
