US President Donald Trump once suggested calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi at 6am India time, brushing aside concerns about the early hour by saying the Indian leader would already be awake, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said as he highlighted the personal rapport between the two leaders.
Addressing the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) Leadership Summit, Gor said Trump regards Modi as "a friend" and remains committed to expanding ties with India, describing their relationship as an important asset for bilateral cooperation.
Sharing an anecdote from a UFC event in Miami a few months ago, Gor said Trump unexpectedly proposed calling the prime minister while the two were backstage.
"I was a couple months ago... with the president at UFC in Miami and we're sitting backstage and he said to me, 'Let's call the Prime Minister,'" Gor said.
When reminded that it was 6am in India, Trump responded: "He'll be up. He's like me."
Although the conversation took place the following day, Gor said the incident spoke volumes about the ease with which the two leaders communicate.
'Not everything has to be scheduled'
Gor said the takeaway from the episode was not the missed early morning call but the trust and familiarity between Trump and Modi.
"The louder message of that story is when you're friends with somebody, not everything has to be scheduled. And the president truly considers the Prime Minister a friend," he said.
The ambassador added that Trump's interest in India remains strong and that the US president frequently reminisces about his earlier visit to the country.
"The United States wants to work hand in hand with India. We care about this relationship. We have a president who deeply cares about this relationship," he said.
Gor also revealed that he had spent nearly two hours with Trump in Washington before the weekend, during which the president repeatedly spoke about India.
"He has very fond memories of India. His visit last time, it was one of his most remarkable visits that he continues to talk about. He holds India in a very fond place," Gor said.
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He added that he hopes Trump will travel to India during his second term.
Bilateral ties 'for several decades ahead'
According to Gor, the foundation of the Trump-Modi relationship was laid during Trump's first term in office and has since contributed to stronger engagement between New Delhi and Washington.
"His years with the Prime Minister go back to his first term. There's warm memories of India. And so that's an incredible benefit," he said.
Gor said both governments are concentrating on achieving measurable progress in trade, investment, defence and technology, stressing that the coming years will be decisive for the partnership.
"We are results driven," he said.
He added: "These next two years will set the relationship on a path for several decades ahead. So for everyone here who participates in this, think of this as a long-term project. This is not a one-year or two-year project, but what we sow now will continue to sustain us decades ahead."
The Trump-Modi partnership gained global visibility during the US president's first administration through mass public events in both countries, including the "Howdy Modi" gathering in Houston in 2019 and the "Namaste Trump" programme in Ahmedabad in 2020. Their governments have since frequently portrayed the leaders' personal equation as a catalyst for expanding cooperation in areas such as defence, trade, technology and the Indo-Pacific.
