New Delhi, May 24: US President Donald Trump described Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a “great” friend and said India could count on him “100 per cent”, during a special event in New Delhi marking the 250th anniversary celebrations of American independence.
The event, held at Bharat Mandapam, was attended by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor.
In a phone conversation with Gor that was played over the venue’s sound system, Trump greeted the audience and praised Modi warmly.
“I love the Prime Minister, Modi is great, he is my friend and I just want to say a very good evening to everybody,” Trump said.
Calling himself a “big, big fan” of Modi, the US President added, “We’ve never been closer to India and India can count on me 100 per cent and our country. If they ever need help, they know where to call.”
Trump also highlighted the performance of the US economy, claiming that America was “setting records” with a strong stock market and economic growth.
The cultural highlight of the evening was a live performance by renowned music composer A. R. Rahman, who performed some of his most celebrated songs, including “Dil Se”, “Maa Tujhe Salaam” and “Tere Bina”.
In his remarks, Trump also praised Rubio, describing him as “the greatest secretary of state in the history of the US,” before concluding his message by asking the audience to “say hello to Prime Minister Modi and let him know I’m a big fan.”
Addressing the gathering, Rubio described India as one of America’s key strategic partners and emphasized the growing cooperation between the two countries.
Jaishankar, in his speech, said the American Declaration of Independence introduced ideals such as liberty, rule of law, free speech and accountable governance that resonated strongly with India’s democratic traditions. He noted that the framers of the Indian Constitution drew lessons from the American independence movement.
Highlighting the evolution of bilateral ties, Jaishankar said the relationship between India and the US had grown stronger through expanding economic, technological and strategic cooperation. He added that the two democracies had successfully overcome the “hesitations of history” due to converging national interests.
He also acknowledged the contribution of the Indian diaspora in the United States in strengthening political understanding and people-to-people ties between the two nations.
Speaking on the changing global order, Jaishankar said the current period of global transition presents an opportunity for India and the US to deepen cooperation further, particularly in reducing risks in the global economy and creating more choices for the world.
The event also included celebrations for Rubio’s birthday and concluded with a performance by the iconic American disco group Village People.
