india

Trump Praises Modi as 'Great Leader' but Says India 'Used to Really Rip Us Off' on Trade

Published on: 19 Jun 2026, 11:41 PM

US President Donald Trump, in an interview aired on Friday, described Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a 'great leader' while also accusing India of previously taking unfair advantage of trade relations with the United States.

Speaking on The Axios Show, Trump was asked to name the world leaders he admires most. He named Chinese President Xi Jinping and Modi, calling them both 'classics'. Trump noted India's population size and Modi's avoidance of wars, saying, 'He stays out of wars, which is smart.'

On trade, Trump said, 'Modi's a great leader, and we do a lot of business with them, but now we do fair business. They used to really rip us off. I don't blame them for that. We had stupid politicians that allowed that to happen.' He added that India is 'not that happy' about the current trade terms because they used to benefit more.

Similar language was used regarding Xi Jinping, whom Trump praised for his appearance and leadership style.

Trump's remarks come amid ongoing negotiations for a bilateral trade agreement between the US and India. While Trump has frequently called Modi a close friend, he has also repeatedly criticised India's past trade practices. At the 2025 APEC summit in South Korea, Trump announced plans for a trade deal while expressing 'great respect and love' for Modi.

The trade relationship has been a point of friction. Trump has also claimed credit for ending the brief military conflict between India and Pakistan in May 2025—a claim the Indian government has consistently rejected. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated that Modi told Trump directly that India does not accept third-party mediation and that there was complete political consensus on the matter.

Analysts note that Trump's comments reflect a balancing act: warm personal rhetoric toward Modi alongside tougher trade positioning. The negotiations continue as both sides seek to define the future of their economic partnership.

Source: Indian Express

Latest in India 10

india

Three BSF Personnel, Youth Injured as Protest Over Detention Turns Violent in Tripura

Three BSF personnel, including an officer, and a local youth were injured in a clash during a road blockade at Ashabari in Tripura's Sepahijala district, where residents were protesting the detention and alleged assault of a youth. The injured have been shifted to hospitals in Agartala, security has been strengthened at the site, and no arrests have been made despite two FIRs.

The Hindu 02 Nov 2026, 03:38 PM

india

Cyclone Murasu: 724 medical teams, 4,628 emergency beds readied across 13 districts

The Health Department has readied 724 medical teams, 4,628 emergency beds and 205 relief camps across 13 districts likely to be hit by Severe Cyclonic Storm Murasu. Ambulance services have been linked to a central portal, and 1,103 of 3,066 pregnant women with delivery dates in early November have already been moved to hospitals.

The Hindu 02 Nov 2026, 03:38 PM

india

Kothapatnam braces for Cyclone Murasu: 400 boats hauled ashore, pregnant women moved to safety

Fishermen in Kothapatnam, about 18 km from Ongole in Andhra Pradesh, hauled nearly 400 boats ashore and secured them with ropes as Cyclone Murasu approached, with tides rising after 5 p.m. Most residents stayed in their homes while families in poorly maintained houses moved to government-run shelters, and seven pregnant women were shifted to Ongole as a precaution. Police made public announcements and an NDRF team reached the village to assist emergency operations.

The Hindu 02 Nov 2026, 03:40 PM

india

INS Sudarshini sails home to Kochi after 22,000-nautical-mile voyage across four continents

INS Sudarshini returned to Kochi on Monday after Lokayan 26, a ten-month voyage covering over 22,000 nautical miles with 17 port calls in 11 countries across four continents. Vice Admiral Sameer Saxena presided over the Flag-in Ceremony, where the ship received a water cannon salute. The deployment included two transatlantic crossings and training exchanges with five foreign navies.

The Hindu 02 Nov 2026, 03:40 PM

india

Karnataka contractors seek ₹38,000 crore in dues; CM Shivakumar says valid demands will be addressed

The Karnataka State Contractors’ Association has urged the State government to clear nearly ₹38,000 crore in pending payments for development works, saying bills since 2021-22 remain unpaid and about 1.5 lakh contractors are affected. Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said the government is working to bring the situation under control and will address valid demands. The association has also sought procedural changes, including seniority-based payments and an end to special Letters of Credit.

The Hindu 02 Nov 2026, 03:43 PM

india

ED freezes ₹9 lakh, seizes records in Bengaluru fake Pfizer antibiotics racket

The Enforcement Directorate has searched five premises in Karnataka and frozen bank accounts holding about ₹9 lakh in connection with an alleged counterfeit medicines racket. Investigators say cheap generic formulations were repackaged and labelled as expensive Pfizer antibiotics, then supplied through distributors to hospitals. The case began with a drug authority and police raid in Bengaluru and is now a money-laundering investigation.

The Hindu 02 Nov 2026, 03:46 PM

india

Thoothukudi Dalit man's murder: family seeks compensation, protection, Goondas Act action

The family of Balamurugan, a 41-year-old former VCK union deputy secretary hacked to death in Thoothukudi on Sunday, has petitioned Collector Vishu Mahajan seeking compensation, a government job and police protection. Five men have been arrested in the case. The petitioners have also asked the authorities to invoke the Goondas Act and to file a charge sheet within the prescribed time limit.

The Hindu 02 Nov 2026, 03:46 PM

india

Harish Rao tours withered Palamuru fields, blames Congress government for paddy loss

BRS leader T. Harish Rao inspected dried-up paddy fields in Wanaparthy district's Pedda Mandadi mandal, where farmers said crops failed at the grain-filling stage for want of water. He blamed the Congress government for not lifting and distributing available Krishna waters in time, and demanded additional releases from Srisailam and Jurala along with compensation for 25 lakh acres of crop loss.

The Hindu 02 Nov 2026, 03:52 PM

india

Odisha landslide: 10 missing as rescue teams continue search in remote Ganjam village

Rescue teams in Odisha's Ganjam district are searching for 10 people missing after a landslide buried homes in Gidipabali village. Of the 25 residents, 13 escaped and 12 were buried; the bodies of two have been recovered. More than 100 disaster response personnel, including NDRF and ODRAF teams, are working at the remote site, which has no road connectivity.

The Hindu 02 Nov 2026, 03:54 PM

india

Priests among injured as group disrupts church inauguration in West Bengal's Basanti

A group of men disrupted the inauguration of a church at Narayantala in South 24 Parganas' Basanti area on Sunday, with congregation members alleging that priests and women were among those attacked. Police say the incident prima facie appears to be an internal feud between two Christian groups, while the Bangiya Christiya Pariseba has filed a complaint and called the attack unprecedented.

The Hindu 02 Nov 2026, 04:30 AM

→ View All India News