India asked for no press questions at Modi-Trump meeting in June, says US envoy

August 24, 2026

New Delhi: Clarification has now emerged regarding India’s request for a no-press interaction before the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump during the G7 summit in France in June. According to sources familiar with the matter, discussions between the two sides regarding public event arrangements before VVIP visits and meetings are a normal practice.

India was cautious about Trump’s ‘unpredictable’ behavior

According to sources, the Indian side exercised caution given past instances of US President Donald Trump taking questions and giving unexpected responses at public events. This behavior was also seen during his talks with the presidents of South Africa and Ukraine.

US Ambassador briefed Trump

According to US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor, he informed Trump about the Indian side’s ‘no questions’ request. Gore said Trump initially agreed to this and said there was no problem.

However, during the meeting, Trump turned to reporters and asked them to ask questions. This allowed the media present at the meeting to ask questions.

Such discussions are common before VVIP meetings

People familiar with the matter said that it is normal diplomatic procedure to discuss leaders’ public engagements and media presence before any VVIP meeting. India also expressed its priorities to the US side as part of this process.

Regional security also discussed during the meeting

Modi and Trump’s meeting came at a time when Indian sailors were killed in US military action during the US conflict with Iran. Prime Minister Modi expressed concern over the disruption of trade routes in the Strait of Hormuz and its humanitarian and economic impact. He also expressed India’s concern about the safety of crews of civilian ships operating in conflict zones and the uninterrupted flow of maritime trade.