‘He’s a fantastic man, a friend’: Trump praises PM Modi, signals ‘good’ India-US trade deal
Washington: US President Donald Trump praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling him a close friend and expressing confidence that India and the United States would reach a trade agreement.
Trump made the remarks while delivering his only on-camera soundbite to an Indian journalist at the World Economic Forum in Davos, News18 reported on Thursday.
“I have great respect for your Prime Minister. He’s a fantastic man and a friend of mine,” Trump said.
According to the report, Washington and New Delhi continue high-stakes negotiations to resolve a prolonged trade standoff marked by tariffs, geopolitical tensions and disputes over energy and agriculture.
Asked directly about a potential trade agreement, the US President said, “We are going to have a good deal.”
Earlier this month, Trump had publicly linked India’s trade treatment to its purchases of Russian oil, claiming New Delhi had reduced imports in response to US pressure.
“They wanted to make me happy,” Trump said at the time, adding, “Basically, Modi is a very good man. He knew I was not happy, and it was important to make me happy.”
Trump warned that India could face swift trade consequences if it failed to align with Washington’s position on Russian energy. “We do trade, and we can raise tariffs on them very quickly,” he said, adding, “And it would be very bad for them.”
New Delhi has denied giving any assurances on curbing Russian oil imports, maintaining that its energy decisions are guided by national interest and price stability.
Trade relations between India and the US remain strained, with the Trump administration imposing tariffs totalling up to 50% on several Indian exports, including penalties linked to India’s continued engagement with Russia and its participation in the BRICS grouping.
India has responded cautiously, introducing retaliatory duties on selected US agricultural imports. Key sticking points remain unresolved as the White House continues to press India to open its agricultural markets further, a sensitive issue for New Delhi, which views farm protections as non-negotiable.
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No exit polls from 7 am of April 9 till 6.30 pm of April 29: EC
New Delhi (PTI): Exit polls can neither be held nor disseminated from 7 am of April 9 till 6.30 pm of April 29 for the five assembly elections taking place this month, the Election Commission has said.
It has also cautioned that conducting or broadcasting exit polls in the period is violative of section 126A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 and is "punishable with imprisonment up to a period of two years, or with fine or both".
While Kerala, Assam and Puducherry going for assembly polls on April 9, the electoral exercise will be held in Tamil Nadu on April 23.
In West Bengal, state polls will be held on April 23 and 29.
While the 48 hour 'silence period' in Kerala and Puducherry will commence at 6 pm on Tuesday, it will kick in at 5 pm in Assam.
Silence period means end of campaigning 48 hours ahead of the end of voting hour in a particular constituency or the entire state.
Except door-to-door campaigning by a limited number of party workers or candidate, no other form of campaigning is allowed. But in a digital age, it is difficult to enforce.
Usually voting is held from 7 am to 6 pm. But the timing varies due to terrain and security situation.
