PM Modi Meets Elon Musk, Set for Bilateral Talks with Trump
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, ahead of his scheduled bilateral talks with U.S. President Donald Trump. The two discussed key areas of collaboration, including space exploration, artificial intelligence, and sustainable development.
During a joint press conference at the White House, PM Modi remarked on Trump’s well-known reputation for deal-making, stating, “I believe that the copyright for the word ‘deal’ belongs to just one person in the entire world, and that person's name is Trump”. His comment came in response to a question about potential business deals with Musk.
PM Modi recalled his long-standing acquaintance with Musk, saying, “I have known Elon Musk for a long time. Even before I became Prime Minister, when I was the Chief Minister, I knew him. Today, he came to meet me with his family, including his children, and we had a casual conversation in a family setting”.
Musk arrived at the Blair House, the U.S. President's guest house, accompanied by his three young children. Neuralink director Shivon Zilis was also present at the meeting.
In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) highlighted the discussions between PM Modi and Musk, emphasizing their focus on fostering collaboration between Indian and U.S. entities in emerging technologies, innovation, and governance. “Their discussion also touched on opportunities to deepen cooperation in space exploration, entrepreneurship, and good governance”, the statement noted.
Following the meeting, PM Modi shared his thoughts on social media, posting on X (formerly Twitter), “Had a very good meeting with @elonmusk in Washington DC. We discussed various issues, including those he is passionate about, such as space, mobility, technology, and innovation. I talked about India's efforts towards reform and furthering ‘Minimum Government, Maximum Governance.”
PM Modi arrived in the U.S. for a two-day visit on Wednesday, where he was received at the airport by India’s Ambassador to the U.S., Vinay Mohan Kwatra, along with other officials. Later, he met members of the Indian diaspora outside the Blair House, who had gathered to welcome him. His visit is expected to further strengthen strategic and economic ties between the two nations.
