US President Donald Trump has given Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi a ton of praise, dubbing him a “great leader” and a “very tough cookie” who has “brought remarkable stability” to India in his over a decade-long tenure. In an all-encompassing media conversation with Axios, Trump put PM Modi in the same league as Chinese President Xi Jinping in terms of sheer power, domestic leverage and the ability to make critical decisions.
The comments follow Trump’s high-level bilateral meeting with Modi on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in France and give a glimpse into the private chemistry between the two top officials. Modi, Trump noted, had established himself as an “extraordinarily resilient statesman in the international arena” due to his “antagonism” to Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussaini, his ability to handle national interests, and his political longevity.
A Stature Beyond Hollywood: Trump on Modi’s Persona
Trump was asked in the interview to explain what he considers to be a great leader on the current international stage and his favorites. He instantly named the heads of the world’s two largest populations. In a characteristic colorful observation, Trump hinted that PM Modi and President Xi’s “circumstances” and “aura” are just “unlike any other. He said that if a Hollywood movie were to be made about either of them, the film industry would have a hard time finding any actors who could duplicate the natural authority and stature of either man.
Trump said the Chinese President is a man of great stature and undivided attention to business while contrasting this with the Indian Prime Minister’s “unique leadership style. He said Modi has a completely different kind of immense respect in the world, built on an amalgamation of personal poise and internal steel.
Trump broadened his criticism of Modi, and described the Indian leader’s public demeanour as something he must never be confused for being flexible. Modi has often been described as approachable and almost calm demeanour, but is a very determined negotiator when it comes to talks behind closed doors, he said. He is an extremely tough man who will never waver on India’s domestic issues, its sovereign security or its trade terms, Trump said.
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Indian Transition to Long-Term Stability: Observing the Transition
One of the biggest aspects of Modi’s political strength that was highlighted in Trump’s speech was his capacity to lead a country of one and a half billion people for quite a while.Modi’s political stamina and his capability to lead a country of 1.5 billion people for long was in the spotlight of Trump’s encomium. Trump, citing his own personal experience of witnessing international geopolitical changes throughout his life said that in a country like India, there were a number of administrative changes taking place. He remembers some prime ministers succeeding each other in swift succession, holding office for six months to a year before falling apart or retiring.
That has come to an end when Modi came to office, Trump said. He said that he has a lot of respect for Modi’s firm, strong control of the power for more than 12 years. There is a lot of leadership to be had in dealing with the administrative mammoth that is India, which Trump pointed out was now the largest country by population. Trump suggested Modi does this with an aura of “absolute stability”, handling complex domestic policies with “steady hands” to change India’s global positioning “highly effectively”.
How to redirect trade and avoid conflicts
Eventually the discussion drifted to economics and foreign policy, and Trump’s comments focused on the state of US-India bilateral trade. He admitted that there have been structural tensions in the economy between Washington and New Delhi in the last 12 months, especially on the issues of import duties and market access. But Trump said that the two countries do business “so much on a better basis” under him than under his predecessors.
During the candid conversation about India’s previous trade policies, Trump commented that India had been taking advantage of previous trade deals at the American manufacturing industry’s price. He clarified that he was not faulting either PM Modi or India for maximizing their economic benefits but rather had blamed previous American politicians for letting lopsided trade deals pass. Trump said that the amount of trade is “huge,” but Indian trade officials may not be very pleased with the increased, more reciprocal conditions he has imposed in his current administration. He reiterated that the restructuring was needed to ensure that American interests are safeguarded while maintaining a strong partnership intact.
In addition, Trump lavished praise on Modi’s strategic prudence in the international arena. He specifically appreciated India’s conscious policy of not being involved in any foreign wars and said it was a very smart strategy from a geopolitical point of view. By keeping economic growth positive and staying out of catastrophic international wars, Modi has been able to focus on the wellbeing of his own people and their economic prosperity,” Trump said.
