U.S. President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are set to hold a joint press conference on Thursday in Washington, marking a rare media appearance for Modi. The event, scheduled for 1710 ET (2200 GMT), follows their bilateral meeting focused on key issues such as trade, tariffs, energy, and immigration.
This press conference is particularly notable as it represents one of the few times Modi has engaged with the media in such a format. Since becoming Prime Minister of India in 2014, Modi has not held a single press conference within his country. His last major interaction with the international press was during his visit to the United States in 2023 when he participated in a joint press conference with former President Joe Biden.
During that event with Biden, Modi faced questions regarding allegations of religious discrimination in India—a topic that has been contentious both domestically and internationally. In response to these queries, Modi denied any systemic religious discrimination within India’s borders. However, this assertion was met with skepticism by human rights advocates who have documented numerous instances of abuse against minority groups across the South Asian nation.
The aftermath of that press conference also highlighted tensions between free speech and political partisanship when the journalist who posed the question about religious discrimination faced online backlash from supporters of Prime Minister Modi. The situation escalated to such an extent that it prompted condemnation from the Biden administration at the time.
Despite these challenges and controversies surrounding media interactions involving high-profile leaders like Modi, Thursday’s joint appearance is expected to draw significant attention globally due to its rarity and potential implications for U.S.-India relations moving forward.
The White House announcement underscores both countries’ commitment to strengthening diplomatic ties through open dialogue—something reflected not only by their willingness to engage directly but also by addressing pressing global concerns together on an international stage.
As anticipation builds around this unusual event featuring two influential world leaders known for their strong public personas and policy stances on various issues ranging from economic development strategies to geopolitical alignments within Asia-Pacific regions—observers worldwide will be watching closely how they navigate complex questions while maintaining diplomatic decorum during this highly anticipated session before international journalists.
Source: Reuters
