Trump Considers Modi a ‘Great Friend,’ Says US Ambassador-Designate After Key Meeting

Date: October 12, 2025

By: Andrew Rose, America News World

In a significant diplomatic engagement, US Ambassador-designate Sergio Gor met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Saturday, emphasizing that President Donald Trump considers the Indian leader a “great and personal friend” . This high-level interaction is widely seen as a step towards mending the India-US relationship, which has recently been strained by trade disputes.

A Meeting to Strengthen Ties

_{US ambassador-designate Sergio Gor with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a meeting in Delhi on Saturday. (ANI)}

The meeting between PM Modi and the newly confirmed American envoy marked a positive turn in bilateral diplomacy. “I had an incredible meeting with Prime Minister Modi,” Gor stated in a press interaction afterward . He revealed that their discussions covered crucial bilateral issues, including defense, trade, and technology, with a specific focus on the importance of critical minerals for both nations .

A notable moment from the meeting was Gor gifting PM Modi a portrait signed by President Trump with the message: “Mr Prime Minister, you are great!” .

Prime Minister Modi also expressed optimism about the future of the relationship. “Glad to receive Mr. Sergio Gor, Ambassador-designate of the US to India. I’m confident that his tenure will further strengthen the India–US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership,” Modi posted on social media platform X .

Navigating Challenges and a Path Forward

The diplomatic outreach comes at a critical juncture. Earlier this year, the relationship faced its most significant challenge in nearly two decades after the US decision to impose 50% tariffs on Indian exports, including a 25% additional duty on crude oil purchases from Russia . India had described these tariffs as “unfair, unjustified and unreasonable,” leading to stalled trade negotiations .

The personal relationship between the two leaders is now central to bridging this gap. Gor highlighted that just before his departure for New Delhi, Trump and Modi had “an incredible phone call,” a connection he expects to continue in the coming weeks and months . This follows a previous call on September 17, when Trump phoned Modi to wish him a happy birthday, which served as an initial icebreaker after a period of public tension .

Gor, who also met with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval during his six-day visit, stated that the US “greatly values its relationship with India” . At his recent Senate confirmation hearing, Gor had described the “deep friendship” between Trump and Modi as a “unique strength” for advancing bilateral relations, noting that the two countries are “not that far apart on making a trade deal” .

While Gor’s formal presentation of credentials is expected at a later date, his current visit has undoubtedly injected a fresh sense of optimism into one of the world’s most important strategic partnerships .