A mobile billboard truck in Washington, DC, has been displaying messages emphasizing the India-US alliance ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House. The billboard features images of both leaders alongside slogans such as “Paving the Path for Progress, US-India Alliance in Developing Skilled Workforce” and “Pillars of Friendship, Pathways of Progress.”
This meeting marks the first official interaction between the two leaders since Donald Trump assumed office as the 47th President of the United States on January 20, 2025. PM Modi and Trump have previously spoken on the phone twice since November 2024.
Ahead of his meeting with Trump, PM Modi held bilateral discussions with key US officials and industry leaders, including US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Indian-origin entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, and US Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard.
During President Trump’s inauguration, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar represented India, met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and participated in the QUAD Foreign Ministers’ meeting in January 2025.
PM Modi arrived in the US for a two-day visit at President Trump’s invitation, receiving a warm welcome from India’s Ambassador to the US, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, and other officials. Expressing optimism about his visit, PM Modi posted on X:
“Landed in Washington DC a short while ago. Looking forward to meeting @POTUS Donald Trump and building upon the India-USA Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership. Our nations will keep working closely for the benefit of our people and for a better future for our planet.”
Before arriving in the US, PM Modi had concluded a three-day visit to France, where he also met with US Vice President JD Vance.
The India-US relationship has evolved significantly over the years. Launched as a “strategic partnership” in 2005, it was later elevated to a Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership during Trump’s visit to India in February 2020.