Trump Presents Signed Book Copy to PM Modi, Says 'You Are Great'
Former United States President Donald Trump presented Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a signed copy of his book Our Journey Together when the two met at the White House on Thursday. Trump, expressing his appreciation, wrote, 'You are great' on the copy.
The get-together, characterized by friendliness and togetherness, started with a hug between the two leaders when they reunited for top-level talks. "I am happy to have you back at the White House", PM Modi remarked, showing appreciation for the significance of the meeting. Trump returned the compliment by saying, "We missed you, we missed you a lot".
Alongside the book, Trump also presented a framed photograph from his 2020 visit to India, where he and his wife, Melania Trump, toured the Taj Mahal. “I am thrilled to welcome my friend Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India, back to the White House”, Trump said during a joint press conference. He recalled PM Modi’s hospitality during his India visit and expressed happiness in returning the favor.
This meeting marked PM Modi’s first official visit to the U.S. following Trump's re-election. The discussions, held in the Oval Office, focused on strengthening bilateral ties, trade, and strategic cooperation between the two nations. The Indian delegation accompanying Modi included External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, and India’s Ambassador to the U.S., Vinay Mohan Kwatra.
As part of his interactions, PM Modi also had meetings with U.S. authorities of special significance, including National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. He also interacted with leaders like Tesla head Elon Musk, Indian-origin businessperson Vivek Ramaswamy, and U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.
At the time of visit, the White House was festooned with Indian flags to represent the enhancing bilateral relations between the two countries. PM Modi is one of the first world leaders to tour the U.S. after Trump returned to the White House. Interestingly, the two leaders since November 2024 have shared two telephonic talks to bolster their diplomatic ties.
Trump welcomed PM Modi to meet key officials, among them Marco Rubio, now chief of the U.S. Department of State, and Elon Musk, the top of the just-created U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino posted on social media a photo of the meeting with, Behind the scenes in the West Wing lobby @POTUS Trump welcomes Prime Minister @NarendraModi of India to the @WhiteHouse.
EAM Jaishankar, who attended Trump’s inauguration in January as Modi’s Special Envoy, also participated in the QUAD Foreign Ministers' meeting earlier this year. His discussions with Rubio and other officials further strengthened diplomatic ties.
With this visit, PM Modi and Trump reaffirmed their strong personal and diplomatic bond, underscoring the U.S.-India partnership's growing importance in global affairs.
