Trump joins US 250th Delhi event by phone

Donald Trump joined a U.S. Independence Day reception in New Delhi by phone on May 24, delivering unscripted remarks that praised India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The call came during a “Freedom 250” event at Bharat Mandapam attended by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and U.S. Ambassador to India Sergio Gor, according to a State Department transcript. Trump told the audience, “I love India,” and said Modi “is great” and “my friend.” The appearance put Trump directly into a diplomatic event built around the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Declaration of Independence, which will fall on July 4, 2026. The State Department published the exchange as official remarks from Trump, Rubio, Jaishankar and Gor at the reception in New Delhi. (state.gov) ### How did Trump enter the event in Delhi? Sergio Gor opened the call from the stage at Bharat Mandapam, telling guests he had “a special guest” on the line before putting Trump on speakerphone, according to the State Department transcript. Trump then addressed the room remotely rather than appearing in person. (state.gov) Trump used the brief call to greet the audience and to praise Modi in personal terms. “I love the prime minister. Modi is great. He’s my friend,” Trump said, adding that Washington and New Delhi had “never been closer,” according to the transcript. (state.gov) ### What exactly did Trump say about India and Modi? Trump told the audience, “I love India. I love India,” before saying India could “count on me 100 percent and our country,” according to the State Department text. He also said, “anything India wants, they get,” while describing himself as “a big, big fan of Prime Minister Modi.” (state.gov) The Indian Express and other Indian outlets reported the same exchange from the event, including Trump’s references to Modi as a friend and his statement that the two countries had “never been closer.” Those reports matched the official U.S. transcript on the central quotes and setting. (state.gov) ### Who else was in the room when the call happened? Marco Rubio attended the reception during a visit to India that included meetings with senior Indian officials, according to the State Department and the Indian prime minister’s office. Jaishankar was listed in the official event remarks, and Gor emceed the evening before handing the phone exchange to Trump. (indianexpress.com) Livemint reported that the event also included diplomats, business leaders and a performance by A.R. Rahman. Reuters could not independently verify the full guest list from publicly available official event materials reviewed for this story, but the State Department transcript confirms the presence of Rubio, Jaishankar and Gor. (state.gov) ### Why was Rubio in India at the time? May 23 was the date Rubio met Modi in New Delhi, according to the Indian prime minister’s office. The official Indian readout said Rubio briefed Modi on cooperation in defense, strategic technologies, trade and investment, energy security, connectivity, education and people-to-people ties, and shared the U.S. view on regional and global issues including West Asia. (livemint.com) Modi’s office said the prime minister asked Rubio to convey “warm greetings” to Trump and said he looked forward to continued exchanges. That meeting took place one day before Trump’s phone remarks at the Freedom 250 reception. ### What comes next in the Freedom 250 calendar? July 4, 2026, is the 250th anniversary of the U.S. (pmindia.gov.in) Declaration of Independence, the milestone the New Delhi reception was organized to mark. The State Department labeled the May 24 event in Bharat Mandapam as a “Freedom 250: Independence Day Reception,” placing it among the official commemorations leading up to that date. (state.gov)