Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday revealed that he declined an invitation from US President Donald Trump to visit the United States, choosing instead to travel to Odisha, the “Land of Lord Jagannath.”
“I humbly rejected the invitation of President Donald Trump to come to the Land of Lord Jagannath,” Modi announced while addressing a rally in Bhubaneswar. The event marked one year of the BJP government in Odisha.
Highlighting the state government’s accomplishments, Modi praised the BJP’s governance in Odisha and commended the recent reopening of all four gates of the Puri Jagannath Temple, including the sacred Ratna Bhandar. “This is not just about governance, it is about fulfilling the faith of the people,” he said.
The Prime Minister’s comments come days after his return from the G7 summit in Canada, where he held a 35-minute phone conversation with Donald Trump. During the call, Trump reportedly asked Modi if he could stop over in the US on his way back. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said Modi declined due to prior commitments but both leaders agreed to arrange a future meeting.
During the call, Modi also clarified that the recent cessation of hostilities between India and Pakistan had been achieved through bilateral dialogue and dismissed any suggestion of US mediation or a trade deal related to the de-escalation.
Trump, however, later claimed credit for the peace between India and Pakistan, stating, “I stopped the war between Pakistan—I love Pakistan—I think Modi is a fantastic man… And I stopped the war between Pakistan and India.” He also claimed to have used trade diplomacy to defuse tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours.
Modi, while not directly responding to Trump’s comments, reiterated at the rally that good governance, not foreign intervention, is key to India’s progress.