US President Donald Trump made a surprise live phone appearance during a high-profile event in New Delhi on Sunday and praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling him a “great friend” and saying India could count on the United States “100 per cent.”
The event, organised to mark the 250th anniversary celebrations of the US Declaration of Independence, was attended by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and senior Indian and American officials.
Addressing the gathering through a live phone connection displayed on a giant screen, Trump said, “I love the Prime Minister. Modi is great. He’s my friend.”
The US President also made a strong statement on bilateral ties, saying, “We have never been closer to India. And India can count on me 100 per cent and our country. If they have any help, they know where to call.”
Trump’s remarks drew loud applause at the venue as Rubio stood on stage during the event. He further added, “Anything India wants, they get. And I’m a big, big fan of Prime Minister Modi.”
The US President also praised Rubio, calling him one of the best secretaries of state in American history. Trump’s remarks came at a significant moment as Washington and New Delhi move closer toward finalising a long-pending bilateral trade agreement.
Earlier in the day, Rubio held delegation-level talks with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, where both sides discussed expanding cooperation in trade, defence, energy security, critical minerals and technology partnerships.
After the meeting, Rubio said India and the United States were close to finalising a “beneficial and sustainable” bilateral trade agreement aligned with the national interests of both countries.
Rubio also clarified that Washington’s recent trade policy changes and tariff discussions were not specifically targeted at India but were part of a broader US effort to rebalance global trade relationships.
“This is not about India,” Rubio said, adding that India remained one of America’s largest and most important trade partners.
The visit by the top US diplomat comes amid renewed diplomatic momentum between New Delhi and Washington following months of negotiations over tariffs, market access and strategic cooperation. Analysts believe Rubio’s visit and Trump’s public remarks are intended to reinforce political confidence between the two countries while accelerating the final stages of the trade pact discussions.
Trump’s comments also come shortly after new US immigration policy changes triggered concerns among some Indian professionals and green card applicants living in the United States.