Trump praises Modi's long tenure as he says US and India now do "fair business"

US President Donald Trump has praised Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, describing him as a "great leader" and a "tough guy" in remarks about trade and leadership. Trump said Modi has been in office for more than 12 years and suggested that India previously had leaders who lasted only months or a year. His comments were made in an interview and focused on the relationship between political stability and business ties.

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Trump said he had watched India over the years and seen leaders change often, before contrasting that with Modi's long tenure. He said the United States does a lot of business with India and that the two countries now do "fair business". Trump also said India had previously "ripped us off", adding that he did not blame India for that because, in his words, "stupid politicians" in the United States had allowed it to happen.

The remarks come as Trump again singled out Modi as one of the leaders he most admires for power, leverage and the ability to deliver results. He also referred to China's President Xi Jinping in similar terms, saying both men stood out for their ability to execute. Trump said Modi "stays out of wars", which he described as smart, and said India is home to 1.5 billion people.

The comments are notable because they link Trump's view of Modi's political longevity with his assessment of trade relations. India and the United States have long had a complex economic relationship, with trade disputes and market access issues often shaping the discussion. Trump's framing suggests he sees Modi's continued presence in office as part of the reason for more stable dealings between the two countries.

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The remarks also touched on India's recent political history. Before Modi took office in 2014, Manmohan Singh served as prime minister from 2004 to 2014, while Atal Bihari Vajpayee held the post from 1998 to 2004. The only short-term prime ministers in the last three decades were H D Deve Gowda and I K Gujral, who each served for about a year, and Vajpayee's 16-day term in 1996.

That context makes Trump's suggestion that India routinely had very brief leadership terms factually inaccurate. It is not clear whether the comments will have any immediate policy effect, but they add to Trump's repeated public praise of Modi. The interview also reinforced Trump's broader view that personal leadership style matters in trade and diplomacy.

What remains to be seen is whether the remarks lead to any new signal on US-India economic ties or remain limited to political commentary.

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