President Donald Trump called Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi a tough negotiator during a briefing at the G7 summit on Wednesday [1, 2].
The exchange signals a strengthening of strategic ties between the U.S. and India as both nations move toward finalizing a significant bilateral trade agreement [4, 5].
The remarks occurred in Evian‑les‑Bains, France, where world leaders gathered for the G7 summit [2, 4]. Trump praised the Indian leader's persona and professional resolve during the event. He described Modi as being like an angel, but added that he is as tough as a killer [1, 3].
Trump said he had a good meeting with Modi and confirmed that the two leaders are currently working on trade deals [4]. The U.S. president emphasized a friendly relationship between the two countries while acknowledging the complexities of the negotiations [5].
Modi is an angel, tough negotiator, Trump said [3].
This public display of rapport comes as the two nations seek to align their economic interests. The briefing highlighted a level of personal chemistry between the leaders that often precedes formal diplomatic breakthroughs. The discussion focused on the near-completion of trade terms that would affect various sectors of both economies [4, 5].
“"He's like an angel, but he's as tough as a killer."”
The rapport between President Trump and Prime Minister Modi suggests a preference for personal diplomacy to resolve long-standing trade frictions. By framing Modi as both a friend and a formidable negotiator, Trump acknowledges India's growing economic leverage while signaling that a final trade deal is imminent.
