Trump calls Modi a great leader and tough guy in Axios interview

Donald Trump lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi in an Axios interview after their G7 meeting. The remarks spotlight Modi's global stature even as India-US trade ties remain under strain.

In Short

• Trump said India and the US now conduct fairer trade
• He described Modi as a leader who wisely stays away from wars
• Trump named Xi Jinping alongside Modi for power and execution

US President Donald Trump has praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling him a "great leader" and a "tough guy" in an interview with Axios. Trump also said Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping were the two leaders he liked the most for their power, leverage and ability to deliver results.

Trump said the US does a lot of business with India and described Modi as a leader who "stays out of wars", adding that this was "smart". He also spoke about his recent meeting with Modi on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in France on Wednesday, which came as India-US ties have been under strain over the past year.

Responding to a question on the two greatest leaders he likes the most in terms of power, leverage and the ability to execute, Trump said: "I think Modi is very good. Yeah. They've had some very good numbers announced. He stays out of wars, which is smart. He's 1.5 billion people. He's actually the biggest. India's actually the biggest. And Modi's a great leader."

On trade, Trump said: "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. You know, we had stupid politicians that allowed that to happen. But now we do a lot of business." He added: "They're not that happy about it because they used to do a lot better. So Modi's great."

Trump also praised Xi, calling him a leader of great stature and confidence. "If you were going to make a movie about either one of them, you wouldn't be able to find the man in Hollywood," he said. Speaking further about Modi, Trump said: "Modi in a very different way. Just highly respected. I know the real Modi is a very tough cookie. I'll tell you, I got to know some that I didn't know very well."

Trump said he had watched India over the years and had seen leaders change often. "Somebody would be there for six months and then a year. And then all of a sudden, Prime Minister Modi ended up; he's been there for more than 12 years, very solid. And he does it through, like, there's a great calmness, and yet he's not a calm person. He's a very tough guy," he said. Trump also named Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif among the leaders he liked. Overall, the interview saw Trump repeatedly praise Modi's leadership, while also referring to trade, diplomacy and his recent meeting with the Prime Minister.

With PTI Inputs

- Ends