India had requested that journalists be allowed to attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meeting with US President Donald Trump during the G7 summit in France, but without a full question-and-answer session, according to US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor. Speaking at the Economic Times World Leaders Forum in New Delhi, Gor said the request was conveyed to Trump before the June 17 meeting, but the US president later invited reporters to ask questions, turning what was expected to be a limited media interaction into an extended press conference.
Gor said he discussed the planned meeting with Trump and asked whether the Indian side had any specific requests. According to the ambassador, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had made only one request: allow the media into the room, but avoid a full press conference. Gor said he subsequently told Trump that the Indian side preferred “no questions”, to which the US president initially agreed. However, when the meeting began, journalists and cameras were allowed into the room as planned. After Modi and Trump made their opening remarks, Trump turned towards the reporters and asked, “Any questions?” Gor said that moment changed the format of the interaction, which eventually continued for around 45 minutes, with a wide range of issues discussed in front of the media. The Indian government has not officially commented on Gor's account.
What happened at the meeting
The Modi-Trump meeting took place on June 17 on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France. The interaction came at a sensitive point in India-US relations, with the two countries engaged in negotiations over a bilateral trade agreement and the wider West Asia conflict affecting shipping and energy supplies.
The Strait of Hormuz was among the issues discussed. Modi raised concerns over the safety of Indian seafarers operating in the conflict-affected region, particularly after three Indian mariners were killed in a US Navy attack on a commercial vessel. Trump responded by describing seafaring as a difficult profession while discussing the risks faced by those working in the region.
Trade and security discussions
Trade relations also featured prominently during the meeting. Trump said the United States and India were “very close” to reaching a trade agreement as both sides continued negotiations. The two leaders also discussed regional security and the broader implications of the conflict in West Asia.
Trump further offered assurances that Washington would support India if the country came under attack from another nation, although he added a qualification about whether the same commitment would apply under a future Indian leader. The remarks came against the backdrop of wider discussions on security cooperation and the evolving strategic relationship between New Delhi and Washington.
Gor's account offers a behind-the-scenes explanation of how the media interaction unfolded. What India had reportedly sought as a controlled media presence without questions instead became a much longer exchange after Trump invited reporters to participate. The episode highlights the unpredictability of Trump's public interactions with the press and provides additional context on the format of a meeting that covered trade, maritime security and regional developments.
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