US President Donald Trump gave Prime Minister Narendra Modi a warm welcome at the White House in Washington, DC, on Thursday (local time). The two leaders shared a hearty hug as they greeted each other at the West Wing lobby. During the high-profile meeting at the White House, U.S. President Donald Trump made headlines with a small but significant gesture of goodwill. As Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived for their discussions, Trump was seen pulling out a chair for him before they took their seats. The act of politeness, which might seem simple, was widely regarded as a symbol of respect and warmth between the two leaders.
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To capture the moment, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino shared a photo on X, saying, “Behind the scenes in the West Wing lobby – @POTUS Trump welcomes Prime Minister @NarendraModi of India to the @WhiteHouse.”This meeting marks PM Modi’s first visit to the US since President Trump’s inauguration for his second term.Amid fears of reciprocal tariffs from the US, Trump outlined energy trade as the biggest issue between the two countries. :
The two world leaders addressed the media ahead of the bilateral talks expected to focus on trade, tariffs, defence cooperation, and evolving global dynamics. Before meeting Trump, PM Modi held talks with key figures, including US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Indian-origin entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, and US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, setting the stage for a discussion focused on strengthening bilateral ties and addressing key global issues.PM Modi arrived in the US after a three-day visit to France, where he met US Vice President JD Vance.