India has officially confirmed its decision to skip a full press conference by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump following their bilateral talks in France, with government sources explicitly citing concerns over the American leader's unpredictable behaviour. As reported by The Wire, the Indian response came on Monday after US ambassador to India Sergio Gor revealed that the Ministry of External Affairs had made a specific request ahead of the June 17 meeting between Modi and Trump on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Evian. Gor said during an interactive session at the Economic Times World Leaders Forum that when the meeting started, the media entered with some 50 cameras, and Modi and Trump spoke for a few minutes before Trump asked 'Any questions?' which opened everything up. The Indian response, made through official sources, did not dispute Gor's account that it had sought to prevent questions from the media, but rather framed it as a precautionary demand, with sources stating 'Discussions regarding arrangements for public appearances of leaders are normal practice ahead of any VVIP visit. In this regard, the Indian side communicated its standard practice for such visits'.
Foreign delegations meeting the US President are 'wary about his unpredictable behaviour as may be seen from his interactions with the presidents of South Africa and Ukraine', according to government sources cited by The Wire. The sources emphasised that discussions regarding arrangements for public appearances of leaders ahead of any VVIP visit are normal practice, with the Indian side communicating its standard practice for such visits. This cautious approach reflects broader diplomatic concerns about Trump's behaviour towards foreign leaders, with the latest incident reinforcing these concerns among Indian officials. Gor had recounted the episode about the Modi-Trump meeting at the Economic Times World Leaders Forum, discussing his efforts to ease friction in India-US ties since Trump returned to office for a second term. The envoy highlighted that the 'deep and personal friendship' between Trump and Modi makes his job easier, but the unpredictable nature of interactions remains a concern for diplomatic protocol.
US envoy Sergio Gor revealed detailed insights into the incident during an interactive session at the Economic Times World Leaders Forum, highlighting the 'deep and personal friendship' between Trump and Modi. As reported by The Wire, Gor said when the meeting started, the media entered with some 50 cameras, and Modi and Trump spoke for a few minutes before Trump asked 'Any questions?' which opened everything up. The envoy brought up the meeting between the two leaders in France, saying 'We were behind the stage, and at one point, it was just the President and I. And he asked me, 'What are the Indians going to raise?' We went over some topics and he said 'do they have any asks''. Gor said he told Trump that the 'Indians prefer no questions...He (Trump) said, 'Sure, no problem''. The envoy said when the meeting started, the media entered with some 50 cameras, adding Modi and Trump spoke for a few minutes. 'As soon as they get done, the first thing the President does, he looks up at the cameras and asks, 'Any questions?'' he said. 'And that opened everything up,' he added. The US ambassador's remarks were part of his reply to the opening question on the steps he had taken to ease friction in bilateral ties since Trump began his second term.
Congress leader Pawan Khera criticised the government's response as an indication that Modi routinely seeks to avoid facing foreign media. As reported by The Wire, Khera said the MEA response to the US Ambassador's comment is revealing because: It suggests that it may be Modi's normal practice to plead with foreign governments not to make him face the media. 'He pleads. But they don't listen. Then they publicly mock him by revealing that they ignored him,' Khera added. Khera further alleged that Modi 'won't fight back – because he is compromised', and said the issue was not merely about the prime minister but about 'the office of India's Prime Minister that is being diminished and disrespected'. Modi's avoidance of open press conferences has drawn scrutiny during his recent foreign trips, with journalists in Amsterdam and Oslo raising the matter with MEA officials travelling with him. In Oslo, Norwegian journalist Helle Lyng directly asked Modi at a public event whether he would take questions from what she described as 'the freest press in the world'. Modi did not respond, leading to a tense exchange with MEA secretary (west) Sibi George.
Modi and Trump held bilateral talks on June 17 in Evian-les-Bains on the sidelines of the G7 summit, with the meeting widely viewed as a step forward in mending bilateral ties that had faced severe strain over the preceding year. According to The Wire, the fresh controversy comes amid a growing perception of a lack of intensity in overall relations between the two sides, with the much-talked-about bilateral trade deal remaining in limbo. The sources emphasised that discussions regarding arrangements for public appearances of leaders ahead of any VVIP visit are normal practice, with the Indian side communicating its standard practice for such visits. The latest incident highlights ongoing concerns about media access during Modi's foreign engagements, with the prime minister's approach to press conferences becoming a recurring topic during his international visits.
