Donald Trump reached the NRG Stadium in Houston at 10.30 pm (IST) after a brief delay. The President was was received by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar at the venue. The delay was reportedly caused by Trump’s stopover at Ellington Air Force Base in Houston, where he was briefed on the flood situation in the state of Texas.
PM Modi praised Donald Trump during the function and said “He needs no introduction, his name is familiar to every person, his every word is followed by tens of millions, he was a household name and very popular even before he went on to occupy the highest office of this great country. From CEO to Commander-in-chief, from boardrooms to Oval Office, he has led a deep and lasting impact everywhere. Today, he is here with us, it is my honour and privilege to welcome him at his magnificent gathering,”
Trump hailed the Indian community in the US, stating the country is proud to the ethnic group as Americans. He hailed the ties between the two countries for their commitment to the rule of law and justice. Trump stated that Modi’s “pro-growth reforms” had led to the uplifting of 300 million Indians from poverty.
“As a result of PM Modi’s pro-growth policies, India has lifted nearly 300 million out of poverty, and that is an incredible number,” Trump said.
Trump said India has never invested in the US like it is doing currently. “And I want to say it is reciprocal because we are doing the same thing in India,” the US President said.
