- By Shubham Bajpai
- Wed, 17 Jun 2026 10:37 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
United States President heaped praise on Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a discussion on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France, saying that the US would come to help if India is attacked and Modi is the PM.
Trump was addressing media questions when he was asked about defence ties between the two countries. He replied, "I think it is a great relationship. Without even a contract...We don't have a contract, but if they were attacked, we would be there to help them...If anybody attacks that man, we are going to be there...If they are attacked and he (PM Modi) is the leader, we are going to be there to help..."
In a light-hearted remark, he joked that the situation might be different under a different leader. "Now, if there is a new leader, I am not sure about it. But if they are attacked and he is the leader, we are going to be there to help," Trump added.
#WATCH | Evian, France | On India-US defence relations, US President Donald Trump says, "I think it is a great relationship...If they were attacked, we would be there to help them...If anybody attacks that man, we are going to be there...If they are attacked and he (PM Modi) is… pic.twitter.com/45pjpLY39e
— ANI (@ANI) June 17, 2026
The US President also recognised himself as a "great friend" of India, adding that the Indian Prime Minister is well respected in Washington.
"As long as I am President, they (India) have a great friend in the White House. Everyone here loves India, and they have tremendous respect for this (PM Narendra Modi) man," Trump said.
The two leaders held their first in-person talks at the G7 in more than 16 months, a move past trade and geopolitical tensions and steadying the relationship between the two democracies. Earlier on summit day (June 16), the two leaders met and exchanged a warm handshake at the outreach.
The White House had earlier confirmed that the meeting would focus heavily on advancing the proposed India-US trade agreement. The Prime Minister also raised the issue of the security of seafarers in the Strait of Hormuz after three sailors were killed in a US attack in the region a few days ago.
(With ANI Inputs)