Published 00:19 IST, September 24th 2019
Howdy Modi: 3 Modi-Trump Surprises that sprung in the last 48 hours
As PM Narendra Modi moves towards engagement at the United Nations after Howdy Modi event, there have been three surprising Modi-Trump incidents in 48 hours
As Prime Minister Narendra Modi makes his way towards his engagement at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) after the electrifying 'Howdy, Modi!' event, there have been three surprising Modi-Trump incidents in the past 48 hours that could indicate Trump’s inclination towards the Indian Prime Minister and the nation that he represents.
The unspoken camaraderie between Trump and PM Modi
1. Trump doesn’t take the podium
The United States President Donald Trump is usually known to take control of the dais or the podium at any event he addresses. It is also a standard practice to occupy the podium as a means to place the documents to be used while delivering the speech. However, something unusual happened at the ‘Howdy Modi’ event which was subtle enough to ensure not everyone took notice of it. The US President did not occupy the podium to deliver his speech, instead, he stood in front of the Indian and American Flag which could possibly indicate his acknowledgment towards the Indo-Americans who have contributed to American economy making it the most influential nation in the world.
2. The Lap of honor at ‘Howdy, Modi!’
In light of the camaraderie between the two leaders, the likes of which has not been seen between any American President with another world leader, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the US President were seen holding hands together. And after their speech, they walked across the aisle as crowds from both the sides of the aisle cheered the bonhomie of leaders of the world’s two largest democracies as they made their way out of the stadium. Here is a snippet of the Lap of honor from the Sunday's magnificent event.
3. Trump’s guest appearance during Modi’s speech at the UN Climate Action Summit
The US President had earlier made it evident of his plans to skip the UN Climate Action Summit by making an excuse of his busy schedule and other commitments. But to everyone’s surprise, Trump appeared at the summit unannounced at the time of the Indian Prime Minister’s speech. International reports state that Trump spent around 15 minutes at the Summit. He reportedly listened to PM Modi and German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s speeches before making his exit from the venue. The subtle gestures of the US President indicate his increased attention towards the Indian Prime Minister and the Indo-US ties to strengthen further in the near future.
Updated 00:17 IST, September 24th 2019