Trump Claims Talk with PM Modi on Trade Ahead of White House Diwali Celebration

Just before celebrating Diwali at the White House, US President Donald Trump announced that he had spoken to Prime Minister Narendra Modi about trade relations between India and the United States. Extending Diwali greetings from the Oval Office, Trump said, “I just spoke to your Prime Minister today. We had a great conversation. We talked about trade… He’s very interested in that.”

The statement comes amid strained trade ties between Washington and New Delhi. Trump recently raised tariffs on Indian goods by 25%, citing India’s continued imports of Russian oil, which has pushed overall tariff rates on Indian products to nearly 50% this year. Defending his policy, Trump claimed that trade and tariff measures have strengthened the US economy and helped prevent potential conflicts, noting that “many wars in the past were about trade.”

Trump also mentioned that his discussion with Modi touched upon regional peace, saying he was “glad there was no war between India and Pakistan.” He described this as a “very good thing,” suggesting that trade diplomacy played a part in maintaining stability.

Praising Modi as a “great friend” and “great person,” Trump highlighted their long-standing relationship. However, India’s Ministry of External Affairs has denied that any such phone call took place, echoing its response to a similar claim Trump made a week earlier about India agreeing to stop Russian oil purchases.

Following his remarks, Trump lit diyas at the White House to mark Diwali, joined by senior US officials and Indian dignitaries, including FBI Director Kash Patel, DNI Tulsi Gabbard, India’s Ambassador Vinay Mohan Kwatra, and US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor. The event also saw the presence of several prominent Indian-American business leaders, celebrating the festival of lights with the President.