President Donald Trump lavished personal praise on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a bilateral meeting at the G7 summit in France. The former described the latter as “the most beautiful looking man” before warning that his angelic appearance masks a negotiating style.
Donald Trump gushes over Narendra Modi at G7 Summit
Sitting alongside Narendra Modi, Donald Trump directed the room’s attention to the Indian prime minister’s demeanour. “You look at this man. I’ll give you a lesson,” the president said. “He’s the most beautiful looking man. He looks so nice, he’s like an angel, but actually he’s a killer… he’s as tough as they come. But he looks so good, so he gets you by surprise.”
The comments echoed a pattern at the summit, where Trump had previously paused a press conference to remark on a Sky News Arabia reporter’s appearance, calling him a “handsome guy” who could be put “in a movie right now.”
Beyond the personal remarks, the Modi-Trump meeting addressed substantive diplomatic issues. Trump confirmed he would visit India “sometime in the future,” signalling a thaw in relations strained by trade disputes and a recent maritime tragedy.
The killing of three Indian sailors by the U.S. military last week complicated bilateral ties. The sailors died in the Gulf of Oman when American military forces struck a tanker accused of violating the blockade on Iranian ports. Modi raised the safety of Indian sailors working in the Strait of Hormuz directly with Trump during their G7 discussions.
The pair also advanced negotiations on a trade deal, which faced setbacks after Washington announced new import taxes on countries judged insufficient in tackling forced labour, including India. Trump described Modi as a “tough negotiator” and said both nations were close to reaching an agreement.
On defence cooperation, Trump made a personal commitment. “If anybody attacks that man, we’re going to be there,” he said, referencing Modi. He added a caveat, “Now, if there’s a new leader, I’m not sure about it.”
