Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a meeting with Indian American businessman Vivek Ramaswamy prior to his visit to the White House for his first official meeting with US President Donald Trump after his inauguration.
Ramaswamy, a billionaire businessman who had quit Doge earlier, has termed Modi a “great leader” and attributed his victory to bringing back India’s national pride and confidence. During a Times Now interview last September, he had referred to India as a trustworthy partner under Modi’s leadership.
During his visit to Washington, Modi also met with US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, and Tesla CEO Elon Musk to discuss several facets of the India-US relationship.
Modi will have a high-level bilateral meeting with Trump tomorrow in the Oval Office, at the crack of dawn Indian time. Among the top agenda points are trade tariffs, where Trump has already indicated that he will impose “reciprocal” tariffs before the two leaders sit down to talk. The enforcement of illegal Indian immigrants in the US will also likely be a central issue of discussion.
#WATCH | The bilateral meeting between PM Narendra Modi and Indian-origin entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy is underway at Blair House in Washington, DC.
(Video: ANI/DD) pic.twitter.com/1GLaCi2aXY
— ANI (@ANI) February 13, 2025
After the meeting, the two leaders will speak at a joint press conference in the White House’s East Room. Trump will later have a formal dinner in honor of Modi.
Less than a month into President Trump’s second term, his policies are already redrawing the map of world relations. Modi is one of the few world leaders to have sat down with Trump since his return to the White House, a sit-down which may determine the direction of improved relations between India and the US in the next four years.
