Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

DemocratSinceBirth

(101,996 posts)
Sat Aug 30, 2025, 11:09 AM Aug 2025

The Nobel Prize and a Testy Phone Call: How the Trump-Modi Relationship Unraveled

Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India was losing patience with President Trump.

Mr. Trump had been saying — repeatedly, publicly, exuberantly — that he had “solved” the military conflict between India and Pakistan, a dispute that dates back more than 75 years and is far deeper and more complicated than Mr. Trump was making it out to be.

During a phone call on June 17, Mr. Trump brought it up again, saying how proud he was of ending the military escalation. He mentioned that Pakistan was going to nominate him for the Nobel Peace Prize, an honor for which he had been openly campaigning. The not-so-subtle implication, according to people familiar with the call, was that Mr. Modi should do the same.

MORE

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/30/us/politics/trump-modi-india.html


Modi got along great with President Obama because he didn't try to bully him.
10 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
The Nobel Prize and a Testy Phone Call: How the Trump-Modi Relationship Unraveled (Original Post) DemocratSinceBirth Aug 2025 OP
This is one of the more ironic twists of Trump's time in office newdeal2 Aug 2025 #1
Loss for us? I thought we were winning? vapor2 Aug 2025 #3
He bonded with President Obama. They visited the MLK Memorial together. DemocratSinceBirth Aug 2025 #4
Obama also had deep respect for Modi's predecessor. fujiyamasan Aug 2025 #7
How is alienating the entire world improving our strategic position? DemocratSinceBirth Aug 2025 #5
Modi knows who the new kid on the populist block is. TommyT139 Aug 2025 #2
This message was self-deleted by its author jfz9580m Aug 2025 #6
And DemocratSinceBirth Aug 2025 #8
God yeah-thank goodness Duterte and Bolsanaro are gone jfz9580m Aug 2025 #9
Here is a free link to the article cited in the OP LetMyPeopleVote Aug 2025 #10

newdeal2

(5,593 posts)
1. This is one of the more ironic twists of Trump's time in office
Sat Aug 30, 2025, 11:11 AM
Aug 2025

He and Modi were seen as being buddy buddy early on. Instead, Trump bullied India for his own personal gain and now India is moving back towards Russia and even China. Huge loss for the USA.

DemocratSinceBirth

(101,996 posts)
4. He bonded with President Obama. They visited the MLK Memorial together.
Sat Aug 30, 2025, 11:30 AM
Aug 2025

Outside of Orban and Bukele does any leader like TACO?

fujiyamasan

(2,015 posts)
7. Obama also had deep respect for Modi's predecessor.
Sun Aug 31, 2025, 07:08 AM
Aug 2025

Unlike Trump, Obama and Biden actually had a strategic vision for American global hegemony (for better or worse depending on one’s viewpoint). Every president since Clinton has actually worked toward cultivating a better relationship with India, yes — partly as a hedge against China’s predominance, but also because its practical to have a good relationship with the world’s most populated nation and fastest growing economies.

Trump’s all about… well, Trump. I want a Nobel prize, and I want it now! He’s like one of the petulant children from Willy Wonka.

TommyT139

(2,431 posts)
2. Modi knows who the new kid on the populist block is.
Sat Aug 30, 2025, 11:27 AM
Aug 2025

Modi's nationalism portrays India -- Hindu India, that is -- as the superior culture. In contrast, any chants of "USA USA" are a passing breeze.

Response to TommyT139 (Reply #2)

DemocratSinceBirth

(101,996 posts)
8. And
Sun Aug 31, 2025, 09:32 AM
Aug 2025

"I’d take Modi over many of the leaders on the world stage at the moment-Xi, Trump, Putin etc", and Orban, Erdogan, and Bukele

jfz9580m

(17,811 posts)
9. God yeah-thank goodness Duterte and Bolsanaro are gone
Sun Aug 31, 2025, 10:24 AM
Aug 2025

Duterte I was pleased to see in The Hague over crimes against humanity for his war on drugs.

LetMyPeopleVote

(181,929 posts)
10. Here is a free link to the article cited in the OP
Sun Aug 31, 2025, 11:20 AM
Aug 2025

President Trump’s repeated claims about having “solved” the India-Pakistan war infuriated Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India. And that was only the beginning.




https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/30/us/politics/trump-modi-india.html?unlocked_article_code=1.iE8.ZUkL.sALtHdC3aNm1&smid=url-share

Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India was losing patience with President Trump.

Mr. Trump had been saying — repeatedly, publicly, exuberantly — that he had “solved” the military conflict between India and Pakistan, a dispute that dates back more than 75 years and is far deeper and more complicated than Mr. Trump was making it out to be.

During a phone call on June 17, Mr. Trump brought it up again, saying how proud he was of ending the military escalation. He mentioned that Pakistan was going to nominate him for the Nobel Peace Prize, an honor for which he had been openly campaigning. The not-so-subtle implication, according to people familiar with the call, was that Mr. Modi should do the same.

The Indian leader bristled. He told Mr. Trump that U.S. involvement had nothing to do with the recent cease-fire. It had been settled directly between India and Pakistan.....

Just weeks after the June phone call, and with trade talks dragging on, Mr. Trump startled India by announcing that imports from the country would be subjected to a tariff of 25 percent. And on Wednesday, he slapped India with an additional 25 percent tariff for buying Russian oil, adding up to a crushing 50 percent.

Mr. Modi, who once called Mr. Trump “a true friend,” was officially on the outs. After telling Mr. Modi that he would travel to India later this year for the Quad summit, Mr. Trump no longer has plans to visit in the fall, according to people familiar with the president’s schedule......

“I won’t get a Nobel Peace Prize for this, I won’t get a Nobel Peace Prize for stopping the War between India and Pakistan,” Mr. Trump posted. “No, I won’t get a Nobel Peace Prize no matter what I do.”

trump's desire for a Nobel Peace Prize is sad and has hurt our relations with India. Modi is attending a conference in China right now,
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»The Nobel Prize and a Tes...