1 week ago
Gor Says Trump Turned Modi Meeting Into 45-Minute Presser
India reportedly wanted cameras and reporters at a meeting between Narendra Modi and Donald Trump.
It did not want the meeting to include questions from journalists.
US Ambassador Sergio Gor said Trump agreed to that plan before the meeting.
After Modi and Trump made opening statements, Trump asked reporters if they had questions.
Reporters then began asking questions.
Gor said the conversation lasted about 45 minutes.
The leaders discussed the safety of Indian sailors near the Strait of Hormuz.
They also talked about trade and what the United States might do if India were attacked.
India’s government has not officially confirmed Gor’s version of events.
India reportedly asked for media access without reporter questions during Modi’s June 17 meeting with Trump.
US Ambassador Sergio Gor said Trump agreed to India’s preferred format before the meeting began.
After opening remarks, Trump turned to journalists and asked, “Any questions?”, according to Gor.
Gor said the exchange became a roughly 45-minute press interaction with many issues discussed.
Modi raised Indian seafarer safety near the Strait of Hormuz, while the leaders also discussed trade and security.
- Who
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President Donald Trump, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor, India’s Ministry of External Affairs, and journalists.
- What
- Gor said India requested media access without a full question-and-answer session, but Trump invited questions and the interaction became a 45-minute press conference.
- Where
- Modi and Trump met in Evian-les-Bains, France, on the sidelines of the G7 Summit.
- When
- The meeting took place on June 17; Gor later described it at the Economic Times World Leaders Forum.
- Why
- India reportedly wanted limited media access, while the leaders also discussed Indian seafarer safety, Strait of Hormuz developments, trade, and security assurances.
India’s reported preferred format
Trump’s reported approach
Media access
India’s reported preferred format
According to Gor, India’s Ministry of External Affairs wanted journalists and cameras present but did not want the meeting to become a full press conference.
Trump’s reported approach
Trump reportedly accepted the limited-access arrangement before the meeting, but later allowed the interaction to expand.
Reporter questions
India’s reported preferred format
India reportedly preferred that journalists not ask questions after the leaders’ opening remarks.
Trump’s reported approach
Gor said Trump turned to the cameras and asked, “Any questions?”, opening the floor to reporters.
Official account
India’s reported preferred format
The Indian government and Ministry of External Affairs have not officially confirmed or commented on Gor’s account.
Trump’s reported approach
Gor presented the account publicly and said Trump’s invitation led to a 45-minute exchange covering a wide range of issues.
Key facts
- Reported source
- US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor
- Meeting date
- June 17
- Meeting location
- Evian-les-Bains, France, during the G7 Summit
- India’s reported request
- Allow journalists and cameras into the meeting without a full press conference or reporter questions
- Trump’s reported response
- Gor said Trump initially agreed to the no-questions format
- Resulting interaction
- Gor described the session as a 45-minute press interaction
- Other remarks by Gor
- He also criticized some Indian reporting as misinformation; Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal separately rejected a Reuters report about India-US trade talks
Quotes
Narendra Modi
Prime Minister of India who raised seafarer safety during the meeting
“We were behind the scenes…And he [Trump] said, do they have any asks? And the MEA [Ministry of External Affairs] had one ask. He said, and it was, let's bring in the media, but let's not do a full press conference.”
scroll.in
livemint.com
“We were behind the scenes, behind the stage, and at one point it was just the president and I, and he asked me, he goes, what the Indians are going to raise. We went over some topics.”
thehansindia.com
Sources
India sought no-question format for Modi-Trump meet; Trump’s ‘any questions?’ changed it all
India Wanted No Questions At PM Modi-Trump Presser, But Trump Invited Media: US Envoy
India asked for no press questions at Modi-Trump meeting in June, says US envoy
Trump agreed to India’s ‘no questions’ request at G7, then ‘forgot’ and held 45-min presser with PM Modi: US envoy
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