Trump Softens Stand, Calls Modi a ‘Great Prime Minister’; PM Responds

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed gratitude for the praise from US President Donald Trump. Donald Trump called PM Narendra Modi a 'great Prime Minister'. Reacting to this on Saturday, Prime Minister Modi said that he deeply appreciates the sentiments of the US President and his 'positive assessment' of their relationship.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on the social media platform 'X' on Saturday morning, "We deeply appreciate and fully support President Trump's sentiments and positive assessment of our relations. India and the US have a very positive and forward-looking comprehensive and global strategic partnership."

Earlier, US President Trump was seen openly praising Prime Minister Modi. Describing the relationship between India and America as 'very special', Trump said that he and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will always be friends.

Talking to reporters at the White House, Trump said, "I will always be a friend of PM Narendra Modi. He is a great Prime Minister. I will always be a friend, but I don't like what he is doing right now. But there is a very special relationship between India and America. There is nothing to worry about. Sometimes we just have some special moments."

Meanwhile, Donald Trump appeared to backtrack from his comment about 'losing' India to China. When Trump was asked about his statement, "Did he blame anyone for losing India to China?" In response, he said, "I don't think we blamed anyone."

It is worth noting that in the last few days, India-US relations have become tense as the US imposed a 50 percent duty on India's imports. Donald Trump had imposed a 25 percent duty on India in August, and then added an additional 25 percent duty citing oil purchases from Russia. India, in response, called this move of the US 'unfair'.