US President Donald Trump has called Prime Minister Narendra Modi as one of the world’s toughest leaders.
While speaking to Axios, excerpts of which were published on Thursday, the US President named his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Modi as the world leaders he most admires.
In an interview with the news outlet, Trump lauded Xi as “all business” and the Indian Prime Minister as “a very tough cookie”.
Trump’s statement closely mirrored his remarks during his meeting with Prime Minister Modi in Evian, France. The two world leaders met on the sidelines of the G7 Summit, amid ongoing negotiations between India and the US over a bilateral trade agreement.
On being asked about how close the two sides were to finalising a trade deal, Trump responded by acknowledging PM Modi’s negotiating skills.
“Very close. We’ve been there for a little while. He’s a very tough negotiator, one of the toughest, actually,” he said.
Further, he described Prime Minister Modi as a leader whose mild public demeanour concealed formidable political instincts. “So, you look at this man — I’ll give you a lesson — he’s the most beautiful looking man, he looks so nice, he’s like an angel. But actually, he’s as tough as — he’s a killer… He’s as tough as they come, but he looks so good. So, he gets you by surprise”.
When asked whether New Delhi could play a role in efforts to stabilise West Asia, Trump replied: “Yeah, I do. I think India plays a big role in everything… As long as he’s the leader, India is going to play a big role.”
Additionally, he highlighted the personal rapport he has developed with Prime Minister Modi over the years. “He’s been my friend for a long time now and we’ve always had a great relationship,” Trump said.