Highlights of Modi’s US Visit and Meeting with Trump
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the United States and held discussions with former US President Donald Trump amidst ongoing reciprocal tariffs imposed by the US.
Major Discussion Points:
- Trade Negotiations and Tariffs
During the bilateral meeting, when asked about negotiating tariff deals, Trump praised Modi, saying, “Modi is a much better negotiator than me. There is not even a contest.” - “MEGA” Partnership Vision
Modi emphasized the joint vision of “MAGA” (Make America Great Again) and “MIGA” (Make India Great Again), proposing a unified “MEGA” (Make Everything Great Again) partnership. This concept aims to bring prosperity and elevate India-US relations to new levels. - Illegal Immigration
Modi expressed confidence in Trump’s support for deporting illegal immigrants. He reiterated India’s readiness to accept verified Indian citizens living illegally in the US. Modi stated, “Those who stay in other countries illegally do not have any legal right to be there.” - Extradition of Tahawwur Rana
Trump approved the extradition of Tahawwur Rana, an accused in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. Modi thanked Trump, saying, “I am thankful to the President for deciding to extradite a criminal who committed genocide in 2008. Indian courts will take the necessary action.”
Trump added, “There are more extraditions to follow because we have quite a few requests. We want to work with India on crime and make it good for India.” - Remarks on the Biden Administration
Trump criticized the Biden administration’s relationship with India, saying, “A lot of things happened that weren’t very appropriate between India and the Biden Administration.”
A Special Meeting with Elon Musk
The world’s richest man, Elon Musk, also met PM Modi during the visit. Musk presented Modi with a Starship hexagonal heatshield tile, which was part of the fifth test flight of Starship—the world’s largest and most powerful rocket—on October 13, 2024.
This visit highlighted the strengthening of India-US ties, with key discussions on trade, immigration, crime, and technological collaboration.
