New Delhi: India had sought a brief media interaction without questions during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France, according to US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor.
Speaking at the Economic Times World Leaders Forum on Saturday, Gor recalled his conversation with Trump before the June 17 meeting in Evian-les-Bains. He said the Indian side had made a specific request: journalists could be present, but there should be no extended question-and-answer session.
According to Gor, Trump had agreed to the arrangement when the ambassador discussed the matter with him privately before the meeting.
India’s Request Was for a Brief Media Interaction
Gor said Trump first asked him what issues India was expected to raise during the meeting. The two also discussed whether New Delhi had any specific requests.
The ambassador recalled telling Trump that the Ministry of External Affairs had one particular request regarding the media interaction.
India, according to Gor, wanted journalists and cameras inside the room but preferred to avoid a full-fledged press conference. Trump reportedly agreed when Gor conveyed the request.
The meeting subsequently began with a sizeable media presence. Gor said around 50 cameras were positioned in the room as Modi and Trump took their seats.
Both leaders delivered their opening remarks before the interaction took an unexpected turn.
Trump Invites Journalists to Ask Questions
Gor said that after the two leaders had spoken for a few minutes, Trump turned towards the journalists and asked whether they had any questions.
The ambassador suggested that the US President appeared to have forgotten the earlier understanding about limiting the media interaction.
What was expected to be a short exchange consequently developed into a much longer interaction, with Modi seated beside Trump as the US President fielded questions from reporters.
According to Gor, the session eventually continued for around 45 minutes, making it far more extensive than the format initially discussed between the two sides.
Diplomatic Moment Drew Media Attention
The episode offers an unusual glimpse into the preparations behind high-level diplomatic meetings, where the format of media interactions is often discussed in advance by officials from both countries.
Gor’s account also highlights how quickly the planned format of a meeting can change once leaders and journalists are in the same room.
The remarks were made while the ambassador was discussing his interactions with Trump and the preparations surrounding the Modi-Trump meeting in France.
The account has since drawn attention because it sheds light on an otherwise behind-the-scenes aspect of the leaders’ diplomatic engagement and the circumstances that turned a planned brief media appearance into an extended press interaction.
