Sergio Gor Reveals Modi-Trump Media Request
US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor has said the Indian side had requested that media be present but no questions be taken during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France. The Indian government has since described such discussions over media arrangements as standard practice for high-level visits.
Sergio Gor Details Modi-Trump Media Arrangement
Gor said that ahead of the June 17 meeting, he discussed the planned media interaction with Trump and conveyed the Indian side’s preference for cameras to be allowed into the room without opening the event to questions.
According to Gor, Trump initially agreed to the arrangement. However, after Modi and Trump delivered their opening remarks, the US President invited journalists to ask questions, turning what was intended to be a brief media appearance into an extended interaction.
Gor recounted the episode while discussing the working relationship between Washington and New Delhi.
Government Calls Request Standard VVIP Practice
Following Gor’s remarks, Indian government sources clarified that discussions regarding arrangements for leaders’ public appearances are routine before VVIP engagements.
They said the Indian side had communicated its standard practice for such visits, indicating that the request should be viewed as part of normal diplomatic coordination rather than an unusual restriction on the press.
Modi-Trump G7 Meeting Covered Strategic Issues
Modi and Trump met on June 17 on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Evian, France, where they reviewed India-US cooperation across defence, strategic technologies, energy and bilateral trade.
Modi also highlighted the importance of freedom of navigation and uninterrupted commerce through the Strait of Hormuz, while raising concerns over the safety of seafarers amid instability in West Asia.
