Trump says he “may visit India next year,” calling Modi a “great man” as the US and India race to resolve trade tensions and finalize a new deal.
Sseema Giill
US President Donald Trump has hinted that he may visit India next year, calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi “a great man” and “a friend,” while saying trade talks between the two countries are “going good.”
Speaking to reporters at the White House on November 6, Trump said,
“He [PM Modi] wants me to go there. We’ll figure that out — I’ll go.”
Pressed on whether the visit might take place next year, Trump replied, “It could be, yeah.”
The statement followed months of tariff-fueled friction between Washington and New Delhi — and marks a striking diplomatic thaw. In August, the US slapped a 50% tariff on Indian imports to punish India for continuing to buy Russian oil. Now, Trump claims India has “largely stopped” those purchases, praising Modi for his “friendship.”
Just nine months ago, the relationship was in trouble.
In February 2025, Trump and Modi launched the U.S.–India COMPACT initiative, promising a bilateral trade agreement by fall. But by August, Washington had turned punitive, imposing the highest tariffs India has ever faced from a major trading partner.
The turning point came in late October, when Trump hosted a Diwali celebration at the White House, calling Modi a “great person” and signaling a reset. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt followed with remarks that the two leaders “speak frequently” and that Trump “feels very positive and strongly” about the India-US relationship.
Now, Trump’s hint of an India visit appears designed to accelerate the long-stalled trade talks — and possibly position a future trip around the 2026 Quad Summit, which India is set to host.
The numbers reveal a paradox: trade is down, tariffs are up, yet rhetoric is suddenly warmer. Trump’s “great friend” line may signal diplomacy driven as much by politics as economics.
Donald Trump: Mixing flattery and pressure, Trump’s style reflects transactional diplomacy — making public praise a prelude to private demands.
Narendra Modi: Walking a tightrope between resisting American tariffs and avoiding overreliance on Russia or China.
Karoline Leavitt: The new White House voice signaling that the relationship is “back on track.”
Rahul Gandhi (Opposition Leader): Criticizing Modi’s “soft stance” on Trump, framing India’s trade pain as domestic political failure.
Most outlets present Trump’s India trip as a breakthrough. But the more interesting question is: what if it’s leverage, not diplomacy?
Trump has a pattern — praise, pressure, deal. His China tariffs dropped to 47%, while India’s remain 50%. His praise for Modi, then, might be performative prelude to a harder negotiation — to extract market access in return for tariff relief and AI cooperation.
Meanwhile, data tells another story: India hasn’t “largely stopped” Russian oil imports as Trump claims. Imports have dipped only marginally. The gap between rhetoric and reality suggests both sides are staging optimism for global optics.
Add to that Trump’s recent engagement with Pakistan’s military leadership — and India’s strategic discomfort deepens. The White House might be juggling both South Asian rivals for leverage in a new round of geopolitical poker.
This potential visit isn’t just about diplomacy. It’s about control of the future’s most valuable commodity: artificial intelligence.
The U.S.–India TRUST (Transforming the Relationship Utilizing Strategic Technology) initiative — launched earlier this year — makes AI the new backbone of bilateral relations. Washington is offering India expanded access to advanced AI hardware, GPU clusters, and cloud infrastructure in exchange for market reforms.
Microsoft and Amazon have pledged billions in AI infrastructure investments in India. If Trump’s visit happens, it could double as a “Tech Summit” — a stage for announcing a “Trusted AI Corridor” linking the world’s two largest democracies.
But if tariffs stay high, the corridor could crumble before it’s built.
Trump’s statement — “He wants me to go there, we’ll figure it out” — might be genuine intent, or calibrated ambiguity.
If the Quad Summit in New Delhi goes ahead in 2026, Trump’s attendance would signal a full diplomatic recovery. But if trade talks stall or tariffs persist, the “visit” may remain a headline that never lands.
For now, Trump’s India overture reads less like a plane ticket and more like a chess move — one designed to keep New Delhi guessing, negotiating, and waiting.
1. What did Trump say about visiting India?
Trump told reporters he “may visit India next year,” praising PM Modi as “a great man” and “a friend,” and saying trade discussions are “going good.”
2. Why is Trump’s visit significant?
It comes after months of tariff tensions between the two nations, signaling a potential reset in relations ahead of a possible trade deal and the 2026 Quad Summit.
3. Has India reduced Russian oil imports?
Despite Trump’s claim, India continues importing about 1.48 million barrels per day from Russia — still over one-third of its total crude basket.
4. What trade deal is being discussed?
The proposed US–India Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) aims to grow trade from $191 billion to $500 billion by 2030, addressing tariffs, data access, and AI cooperation.
5. What role does AI play in US–India relations?
AI is now central to the partnership under the TRUST initiative, involving joint infrastructure, compute access, and ethical AI frameworks.
Exclusive Content
Sign up for the Daily newsletter to get your biggest stories, handpicked for you each day.
Trending Now! in last 24hrs
