Trump and Modi Set to Reunite: Upcoming Meet Echoes The Grand ‘Namaste Trump’ Rally in 2020

New Delhi: Former US President Donald Trump revealed on Tuesday that he will meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi next week during Modi’s visit to the US. This announcement comes against the backdrop of a notable past engagement between the two leaders, highlighting their strong diplomatic relationship.

Trump and Modi: A Strong Diplomatic Bond

Trump and Modi have maintained a notably warm relationship, with several high-profile meetings and public events reflecting their mutual admiration. Their last major interaction occurred in February 2020 when Trump visited India, a visit marked by grand displays of friendship and cooperation.

During Trump’s tenure, the two leaders engaged in various diplomatic activities aimed at strengthening US-India ties. This relationship was publicly showcased during Modi’s visit to the US in 2019 at the "Howdy, Modi!" rally in Texas, which saw over 50,000 attendees. Earlier in 2019, Modi and Trump also held bilateral talks in Osaka, Japan, ahead of the G-20 Summit and met again in Manila in 2017 during the ASEAN Summit.

February 25, 2020: Diplomatic Engagement in New Delhi

On February 25, 2020, Trump and Modi’s meeting was a key event during Trump’s state visit to India. The day commenced with Trump’s reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan, the Indian presidential palace. Following this, Trump visited Raj Ghat, where he laid a wreath at the memorial dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi.

Following these ceremonies, Trump and Modi held talks at Hyderabad House. Trump commented on their discussions about the Taliban peace deal, noting, “I spoke to PM Modi on it. I think India would like to see it happen. We are pretty close. Everybody is happy about it.” This deal, scheduled to be finalised on February 29, depended on a week-long truce in Afghanistan. Trump expressed his positive sentiments about the visit, stating, “We had a great time. We had great meetings. This is a tremendous country. I think they like us more than they ever liked us. There is a great relationship between the Prime Minister and myself.”

February 24, 2020: The “Namaste Trump” Rally

The visit’s highlight was the “Namaste Trump” rally held on February 24, 2020, in Ahmedabad, Modi’s home state of Gujarat . This event, organized in the world’s largest cricket stadium with a capacity of 110,000, featured Trump addressing a massive crowd. Attendees wore white “Namaste Trump” hats and were treated to a musical prelude featuring popular rally tunes.

Trump’s speech at the rally praised Indian democracy and Bollywood while reinforcing his admiration for Modi. He declared, “America loves India, respects India,” and celebrated the strong bond between the two leaders. Modi responded with similar enthusiasm, leading chants of “Namaste Trump” and emphasizing the close relationship between the U.S. and India.

Despite the grandiosity of the event, there were controversies surrounding the visit, including reports of local authorities building walls to hide slums along Trump’s motorcade route and concerns about the treatment of activists. Protests against the visit highlighted ongoing tensions and dissatisfaction within India regarding Modi’s policies.

As Trump prepares to meet Modi again next week, the backdrop of their past interactions underscores a relationship characterised by mutual respect and strategic cooperation. However, challenges remain, including trade tensions and geopolitical concerns, which will likely influence their upcoming discussions.