Trump had said Modi is a “great man” during his campaign.
The hotline connecting Washington, DC, and New Delhi came active on Monday when President Donald Trump called Prime Minister Narendra Modi to congratulate him on the thumping victory in the recently concluded assembly elections in India.
The White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer has confirmed the phone call, but did not reveal much on the content of the phone conversation, except the congratulatory remark.
“President spoke with German Chancellor Merkel and Indian Prime Minister Modi earlier today to congratulate them on their parties’ success in recent elections,” read a White House statement.
Trump has congratulated Modi for emerging victorious with a four out of five lead in the assembly elections held in five states. Modi was the campaign mascot of BJP in all states and it proved effective in forming a government in four states. Only Punjab went in favor of the Congress Party. Modi addressed a number of rallies in all five election-bound states – Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa, Manipur, and Punjab.
The first time both speakers spoke with each other was following Trump’s victory over Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential elections. Modi called Trump and congratulated him just hours after his landslide victory.
The second-time Trump took the initiative to call Modi, just four days after he took charge of the White House. The leaders discussed the way forward on issues like trade, defense, and terrorism. A statement of the White House after the talk said, “US considers India a true friend and partner in addressing challenges around the world.”
During a fundraising event, held a few weeks before the presidential election, Trump had said that Modi is a “great man.” He promised that if he is elected as the president of the United States, the relationship between India and the US will improve multifold and India will have a true friend in the White House.