1 week ago
India Cites Trump’s Unpredictability Amid Modi Meeting Press Dispute
India and the United States disagreed about how reporters should interact with their leaders after a meeting.
Indian officials said they wanted to be careful because President Donald Trump can sometimes behave unpredictably with foreign leaders.
They said discussing media arrangements before an important visit is normal diplomatic practice.
U.S. envoy Sergio Gor gave a more specific account of the request.
He said India asked that the leaders not take questions.
Gor said Trump agreed but later appeared to forget.
Trump then invited questions, and the interaction lasted about 45 minutes.
Narendra Modi was present during the interaction.
The leaders had met in France while the two countries were also working on trade and other areas of cooperation.
Indian officials said concerns about Donald Trump’s unpredictable behavior led New Delhi to take a cautious approach to media arrangements.
U.S. envoy Sergio Gor said India specifically requested that the leaders take no questions after their meeting.
Gor said Trump agreed but apparently forgot the request and opened an approximately 45-minute media interaction with Narendra Modi present.
Modi and Trump met in Evian-les-Bains, France, on the sidelines of the G7 summit; reports differ on whether the meeting occurred June 17 or June 18.
The dispute comes as India and the United States discuss an interim trade agreement and broader efforts to strengthen bilateral ties.
- Who
- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, U.S. President Donald Trump, Indian government officials, and U.S. envoy Sergio Gor.
- What
- A dispute emerged over India’s reported preference to avoid questions or a joint media interaction after Modi and Trump met.
- Where
- Evian-les-Bains, France, on the sidelines of the G7 summit.
- When
- The meeting took place in June; reports differ, with one citing June 17 and another June 18. Officials responded on a Monday, identified in one report as August 24.
- Why
- Indian officials cited caution about Trump’s unpredictable behavior, while Sergio Gor said India had specifically requested that no questions be taken.
Indian Government Officials
U.S. Envoy Sergio Gor
Reason for limiting media access
Indian Government Officials
Indian officials said delegations are wary of Trump’s unpredictable behavior, citing his interactions with the presidents of South Africa and Ukraine, and therefore India adopted a cautious approach.
U.S. Envoy Sergio Gor
Gor described the matter as a specific request from India’s Ministry of External Affairs that the leaders take no questions.
Nature of the arrangement
Indian Government Officials
India said discussions about leaders’ public appearances are routine diplomatic practice and that it had communicated its standard practice for such visits.
U.S. Envoy Sergio Gor
Gor said the Indian side told him that it preferred no questions, and that Trump agreed before apparently forgetting the request.
What happened after the meeting
Indian Government Officials
The Indian officials’ comments focused on advance arrangements and did not dispute that a media interaction occurred.
U.S. Envoy Sergio Gor
Gor said Trump unexpectedly asked for questions, resulting in an approximately 45-minute interaction with both leaders present.
Key facts
- Meeting location
- Evian-les-Bains, France
- Meeting occasion
- G7 summit
- Reported meeting date
- June 17 in one report and June 18 in another
- Indian explanation
- Officials said concern about Trump’s unpredictable behavior prompted a cautious approach.
- Sergio Gor’s account
- He said India specifically requested that the leaders take no questions.
- Media interaction
- Trump invited questions, leading to an interaction lasting approximately 45 minutes.
- Related bilateral issues
- The leaders reviewed defense, strategic technology, energy, and trade cooperation, including negotiations toward an interim bilateral trade agreement.
Quotes
Government sources
Unnamed Indian government sources responding to criticism of the media arrangements
“Discussions regarding arrangements for public appearances of leaders are normal practice ahead of any VVIP visit.”
deccanchronicle.com
indianexpress.com
“So I told the President, Indians prefer no questions.”
deccanchronicle.com
indianexpress.com
Indian government official
Government official quoted by IANS regarding India’s arrangements for meetings with the US President
“In this regard, the Indian side communicated its standard practice for such visits… Delegations when meeting the US President are wary about his unpredictable behaviour, as may be seen from his interactions with the President of South Africa, Ukraine etc. Thus, the cautious approach by India”
thestatesman.com
“This is not just about Narendra Modi. It is the office of India’s Prime Minister that is being diminished and disrespected. And Modi deserves every bit of condemnation for bringing us to this point.”
indianexpress.com
Prime Minister’s Office
Indian government office describing the leaders’ meeting and bilateral progress
“reviewed the substantial progress achieved under the India–US COMPACT (Catalyzing Opportunities for Military Partnership, Accelerated Commerce and Technology) since their meeting in Washington DC in February 2025. They welcomed key developments across the defence, strategic technologies, energy, and bilateral trade sectors”
thestatesman.com
Sources
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