PM Modi’s Approval Ratings Make Me Jealous: US Vice President Vance

Jaipur: US Vice President JD Vance praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership during his four-day visit to India, calling the Indian leader a “special person” and expressing admiration for his high approval ratings, which he said made him “jealous.”

In his address at an event discussing India-US energy ties, Vance described PM Modi as a “tough negotiator” who “drives a hard bargain” to advocate for India’s industry. Vance, who arrived in Delhi on Monday with his family, noted the warmth of Modi’s hospitality, recounting a dinner at the Prime Minister’s residence the previous evening.

“I told Prime Minister Modi last night, he’s got approval ratings that would make me jealous,” Vance shared. The US Vice President also highlighted his son Ewan’s enthusiasm for the food at the dinner, joking that after experiencing the sun in Jaipur, Ewan reconsidered the idea of moving to India, suggesting they might instead relocate to England.

Vance also took the opportunity to reflect on the shift in US-India relations, criticizing previous US administrations for adopting an attitude of “preachiness” toward Modi. He emphasized that the new approach was not to impose any particular way of doing things, but to build a more respectful and mutually beneficial relationship between the two nations.

He also acknowledged PM Modi’s role as a “tough negotiator” and affirmed that while Modi was fighting for India’s industry, past US leaders had failed to do the same for American workers. “We respect him for that,” Vance stated, further underscoring the importance of resolving trade differences for the mutual benefit of both countries.

Vance’s remarks came amid ongoing negotiations between New Delhi and Washington to finalize a bilateral trade agreement. The deal, which was discussed during PM Modi’s talks with former President Trump earlier this year, is expected to address key issues like tariffs and market access.

This visit follows recent tensions surrounding a tariff regime imposed by President Trump on India and other countries, signaling a new phase in the evolving US-India trade relationship.