Donald Trump's India visit LIVE Updates: US President & First Lady Melania at Taj Mahal

To propel the strategic relations between the two countries, US President Donald Trump is set to begin his maiden India visit from PM Modi's home state, Gujarat. Donald Trump, accompanied by wife Melania Trump and a high-level delegation will arrive Ahmedabad at noon on February 24 for a little less than a 36-year-hour-long trip. 

From Ahmedabad, he will travel to Agra before arriving at the national capital for the main leg of the visit. In Ahmedabad, Trump will address the 'Namaste Trump' event jointly with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the newly built Motera cricket stadium. After the event, the US President and the First Lady will visit Agra, where they will spend about an hour at the Taj Mahal before sundown.

Trump will then depart for Delhi. On the morning of February 25, Trump and the First Lady will be accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan. From there, they will go to Rajghat to pay homage to the 'samadhi' of Mahatma Gandhi. It will be followed by restricted and delegation-level talks between Trump and Modi at Hyderabad House. Prime Minister Modi will host a lunch for Trump following the talks.

In the afternoon, Trump is expected to attend certain private events at the US Embassy, including a private roundtable with industry representatives. On the February 25th evening, the US president will meet President Ram Nath Kovind at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. A banquet will be hosted by Kovind and President Trump will depart from India later that evening.

READ| Agra decked up to welcome Trump; security forces fortify city, Taj Mahal

Trump's Itinerary

February 24

• US President Donald Trump is scheduled to arrive at the Ahmedabad airport at around noon, wherein he will be received by PM Modi. 
• PM Modi and Donald Trump will hold a roadshow in Gujarat on February 24 for which 10,000 police personnel, to be led by 25 senior IPS officers will be deployed. Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, and PM Modi will travel along a 22-km long route, starting from the Ahmedabad. International Airport to Sabarmati Ashram, and then to Motera stadium via Indira Bridge. 
• The US President and US first lady will be spending an hour in Agra's Taj Mahal, before coming to Delhi. 

February 25

• Upon his arrival in New Delhi, Trump will receive a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhawan as per protocol.
• The US President is then scheduled to visit New Delhi's Raj Ghat and pay his homage to Mahatma Gandhi. 
• Following that, Trump and PM Modi will hold extensive talks on February 25 on a range of issues, including defence and trade. Reportedly, India and the US were not keen on finalising a trade deal, thus both sides will take a decision on it considering a long-term view. Some defence deals may fructify during Trump's visit, the sources said.
• PM Modi will host a lunch for the US President, following which the leaders will hold a media interaction. 
• Trump will then attend events at the US Embassy, including a business summit.
• Trump's visit will conclude with an early banquet dinner hosted by President Ram Nath Kovind, following which he will depart for Washington.

After hosting Modi at a Howdy Modi rally in Houston last year that drew 50,000 people, Modi will return the favor with a Namaste Trump rally (it translates to, "Greetings, Trump) at the world's largest cricket stadium in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad. Tens of thousands are expected to line the streets.

Modi "told me we'll have 7 million people between the airport and the event," Trump said to reporters Tuesday, then raised the anticipated number to 10 million when he mentioned the trip during a Thursday night rally. Indian authorities expect closer to 100,000. I'll never be satisfied with a crowd if we have 10 million people in India," Trump said. And as he left the White House on Sunday for the flight to India, the upcoming spectacle was on the president's mind again: I hear it's going to be a big event. Some people say the biggest event they've ever had in India. That's what the prime minister told me this will be the biggest event they've ever had. Trump's motorcade will travel amid cheers from carefully picked and screened Modi loyalists and workers from the BJP. They will stand for hours alongside the neatly manicured 22-kilometer (14-mile) stretch of road to accord Trump a grand welcome.

READ| Donald Trump says 'looking forward' to being in India as POTUS departs from White House

Security cover

NITC Maurya, the hotel where US President Donald Trump will check-in on Monday, has been brought under an unprecedented security cover with anti-sabotage teams involving the Army and paramilitary conducting checks on the routes to be taken by the visiting dignitary.

Security agencies are also working in close coordination with the US Secret Service, officials said. Anti-drone detachment of NSG, snipers, elite SWAT commandos, kite catchers, canine units, sharpshooters on high-rise buildings and Parakram vans have also been deployed along the routes and areas in and around the hotel where Trump will be staying, they said.

Police personnel from six districts have been deployed for the security arrangements and nearly 40 companies of Central Armed Police Forces have been pressed into action. Hundreds of high-definition CCTV cameras with night vision have been installed across the Sardar Patel Marg where hotel ITC Maurya is located to monitor the situation round-the-clock, the officials said.

The route leading to a Delhi government school where US first lady Melania Trump is scheduled to pay a visit will also be under a high-security cover, according to officials. Trees have been trimmed according to the directions of the security agencies as part of the protocol. Meetings have also been held with US security agents on the elaborate security arrangements in place.  At the ITC Maurya, three-layer security will be in place. The sources added that the hotel will be out of bounds for other guests during the time Trump and his entourage will be there, and all the 438 rooms of the five-star property have been booked.

(With PTI inputs) 

Horse-riding police personnel conducted patrolling outside Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad, ahead of 'Namaste, Trump', an event similar to the Howdy, Modi! rally in Houston. 

A group of Garba dancers perform at the Airport Circle in Ahmedabad, the same group is one of the artists lined up to perform for the dignitaries during the grand roadshow of the US President and US First Lady.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has departed for Ahmedabad where he will receive US President Donald Trump at the airport. Subsequently, he will take part in a roadshow along with the US President and participate in the 'Namaste Trump' event at the newly built Motera stadium. 

Ahead of the 'Namaste Trump' event scheduled to commence approximately at 1.05 pm, the entry of the spectators into the newly built Motera stadium has begun. Both US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a crowd of more than one lakh people. 

US President Donald Trump, hours before landing to Gujarat, shared a tweet in Hindi. Earlier on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed Trump on Twitter. He was responding to the US President’s tweet which was posted when he was departing for India from White House.

PM Modi arrived at the Ahmedabad Airport on Monday morning to receive Donald Trump. The US President is on a two-day visit to India. The US President is being accompanied by his wife Melania Trump, daughter and advisor Ivanka Trump, son-in-law and senior advisor Jared Kushner, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette, National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien, and other prominent officials. 

One of the main highlights of the US President’s visit is the ‘Namaste Trump’ event. It has been designed on the lines of 'Howdy, Modi!' organised in Houston last year. A huge stage is being set up at the centre of the Motera stadium that would have the speeches of PM Modi and the US President. 

BCCI president Sourav Ganguly and BCCI secretary Jay Shah have arrived at the Motera stadium ahead of the 'Namaste Trump' event. The stadium is already jam-packed.

Republic TV is reporting from the Taj Mahal in Agra ahead of US President Trump's visit to the historic monument.  

US President Donald Trump along with accompanied by his wife Melania Trump, daughter and advisor Ivanka Trump, son-in-law and senior advisor Jared Kushner, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette, National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien, and other prominent officials landed in India. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hugged US President Donald Trump as he received him and First Lady Melania Trump in Ahmedabad Airport on Monday.  

PM Modi and US President Donald Trump's roadshow gets underway in Ahmedabad as they make their way to the Sabarmati Ashram. 

Sharing a photograph of PM Modi embracing Donald Trump, the Prime Minister welcomed the US President on Monday to India. Immediately after the Air Force plane landed, Donald Trump and PM Modi embarked on a 22-km-long roadshow from the Ahmedabad International Airport.

Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump spin the Charkha at Sabarmati Ashram. During his visit, both the US President and First Lady wrote in the visitor's book. The Trumps are not headed towards the Motera stadium now.

Prime Minister's office shared a tweet of the 'electric atmosphere' that was witnessed at the Motera Stadium ahead of the extravagant 'Namaste, Trump' event.

Welcoming the US President and Trump family, PM Modi hailed the strategic relationship between the two countries. He said, "India-US relations are no longer just another partnership. It is a far greater and closer relationship. One is 'land of the free' the other believes the world is one family. One feels proud of 'statue of liberty' the other feels proud of 'statue of unity.'"

"There is so much that we share, like shared values and ideals, a shared spirit of enterprise and innovation. Shared opportunities and challenges, shared hopes and aspirations," he added.

Donald Trump in his address heaped praises for India and called PM Modi 'very tough'.  He said, "We will always remember this remarkable hospitality. India will hold a special place in our hearts. PM Modi started out as 'tea wallah', he worked as a tea seller. Everybody loves him but I will tell you this, he is very tough."

• Trump on Howdy Modi! 

In his address, recalled Houston's 'Howdy Modi!', Trump said, "Five months ago the United States welcomed your great Prime Minister at a giant football stadium in Texas and today India welcomes us at the world's largest cricket stadium right here in Ahmedabad." "The potential for India is absolutely incredible. India's rise is an example for every nation in the world, all the more inspiring as you have done it as a democracy, as a peaceful country," he added. 

• Trump on Bollywood & cricket

US President Donald Trump highlighted Bollywood and Indian Cricket in his speech. In addition, invoking the various Indian festivals in his address, he said,  "All over the planet people take great joy in watching Bollywood films, bhangra, and classic films like DDLJ and Sholay. You cheer on great cricketers like Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli."

• Trump on terrorism

Elaborating on radical Islamic terrorism Trump said, "India, US committed to fighting terrorists and their ideology; that is why my govt is working with Pakistan to crack down on terror groups." He further announced that the two leaders would seal defense deals worth USD 3 billion on Tuesday. 

Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will receive US President and his family at the Kheria airport, Agra on their arrival from Ahmedabad. However, the two leaders will not be accompanying Trump and First Lady Melania to the historic monument. 

Trump’s convoy route from the airport to the Taj Mahal is about 13 km, and along the way, thousands of artists will be welcoming him with special performances.

US President Donald Trump, who once owned the former Trump Taj Mahal casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey, is taking in the breathtaking views of the real Taj Mahal.  He is the third President of the United States to visit the historic monument.

On his flight to Agra, India, Trump told reporters on Air Force One that he's never been to the iconic 17th-century mausoleum, but that he's heard it's “incredible.” Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrived at the UNESCO world heritage site just as the sun was beginning to set.