WH says serious talks on trade ties under way, Trump has ‘great respect’ for PM Modi

By Anjali Sharma

WASHINGTON – White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Tuesday has said that US President Donald Trump has great respect for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and that the two leaders speak “pretty frequently.”

Ms. Leavitt disclosed that Trump and his team are in “serious discussions” with the Indian side on the trade negotiations.

White House said that Trump has great respect for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the two leaders speak “pretty frequently”, said the White House on Wednesday.

On the India-US relationship, Ms. Karoline Leavitt said that Trump “feels very positive and strongly” about the bilateral relationship.

 “I know the President has great respect for Prime Minister Modi, and they speak pretty frequently,” she said.

She highlighted the Diwali event at the White House and the appointment of Sergio Gor as the next US Ambassador, as evidence of the US President’s commitment to the relationship with India.

“He recently, a few weeks back, spoke to the Prime Minister directly when he celebrated Diwali in the Oval Office with many high-ranking Indian American officials here at the White House. We have a great US Ambassador to India in Mr Sergio Gor, who will represent our country very well,” she stated

Trump hosted a special Diwali event at the White House, where he cited Prime Minister Narendra Modi as “a great person” and said he loves “the people of India”.

The event was attended by the Indian Ambassador to the United States, Vinay Kwatra; Sergio Gor, the FBI Director; Kash Patel, the FBI Director; and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.

Leading business leaders from the Indian diaspora were also part of the celebrations.

Trump lit the diya in the Oval Office, called it “a symbol of faith in the victory of light over darkness” and making his “warmest wishes to the people of India”.

On the trade ties between India and the US, Ms. Leavitt said, “The President and his trade team continue to be in very serious discussions with India with respect to that topic,” she added.

Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that India continues to remain engaged with the US side to conclude a trade deal.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had said, “We continue to remain engaged with the US side to conclude a trade deal, and these discussions are continuing.”

India and the US hit a roadblock in their trade talks in August 2025 because of a major tariff dispute.

US imposed tariffs on Indian goods after India continued buying oil from Russia.

Other key disagreements were over access to each other’s farm markets, trade barriers.

These issues have slowed progress, even though both sides still aim to sign a trade deal.