US President Donald Trump on Sunday delivered a warm message to India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a virtual appearance at the 250th US Independence Day celebration hosted at the US Embassy in New Delhi, assuring that India could count on him “100 per cent”.
The interaction took place against the backdrop of expanding India-US cooperation on trade, defence and the Quad partnership. In virtual interaction, Trump highlighted both his admiration for PM Modi and the importance of the India-US relationship.
“I love India. You (Ambassador Gor) have to make a good speech as a representative of our country. I just want to say hello to everybody. I love the Prime Minister. PM Modi is great; he is my friend,” Trump said during the live interaction.
“India can count on me 100 per cent. They call right here. We’re doing well. We’re setting records. We have a record economy, a record stock market and anything India wants to get. I am a big, big fan of Prime Minister Modi,” Trump said.
TRUMP PRAISES RUBIO
Trump also used the occasion to praise US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is currently visiting India for the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.
“Marco is the greatest. He is going down as the greatest Secretary of State in the history of our country,” Trump said.
Rubio’s visit comes at a significant diplomatic moment as India prepares to host senior representatives from the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, which includes the US, India, Japan and Australia. The grouping has increasingly emerged as a key strategic platform focused on Indo-Pacific security, maritime cooperation and supply chain resilience amid China’s growing regional influence.
US Ambassador Sergio Gor, along with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, was present at the commemorative event, where Trump addressed attendees virtually. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also attended the embassy celebration.
A NEW ERA OF SHARED SUCCESS
US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor strongly emphasised the personal chemistry between Trump and PM Modi while describing bilateral ties as stronger than ever.
“Every time the President and I speak, one of the first questions the President will ask is, ‘How is my friend, the Prime Minister doing?’” Gor said.
“And that is something that is important to convey because this relationship is not new.”
Gor argued that the India-US partnership had entered what he called “a new era of shared success”, driven by growing investment, trade and strategic cooperation.
“This bond is the foundation of a new era. We are actively delivering on the promise of our cooperation and building a future of tangible achievements,” he said.
TRADE DEAL EXPECTED IN COMING WEEKS
The event also reflected growing optimism around an interim trade agreement currently under negotiation between India and the US. Gor revealed that the framework of the deal had already been announced and suggested that the agreement could be signed within weeks.
“Since I arrived in New Delhi just five months ago, we have announced an interim trade deal that, hopefully, in the next few weeks, will get signed,” he said.
Earlier in an exclusive interview with India Today TV, Rubio said the progress being made on a long-pending trade agreement between both countries. Without revealing details, the US Secretary of State said negotiators were now working through the “final details” and indicated that an agreement could be finalised within weeks rather than months.
“We’re down to very final details,” Rubio said.
“I’m very confident we all have a lot of reason to be optimistic that we’re on the verge of a trade deal.”
The US Secretary of State said the proposed deal could open the door for deeper business ties between the two countries.
– Ends
With inputs from agencies
Published By:
Satyam Singh
Published On:
May 24, 2026 23:03 IST
