India had asked the US to avoid questions from the media during a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump.
Trump later forgot the request and opened the floor to reporters, said US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor.
Gor made the comments while talking about Modi and Trump and the personal connection between the two leaders. His comments have caught the attention because they provide an unusual glimpse into how media interactions with the two leaders are planned.
According to Gor, India’s Ministry of External Affairs wanted journalists in the meeting but didn’t want it to be a full question-and-answer session.
Trump initially agreed to the arrangement, but after the leaders made their opening remarks he apparently invited reporters to ask questions.
The incident showcases the unpredictable nature of Trump’s interactions with the media. With Trump often taking questions during his public appearances, he has often deviated from a well-prepared format in public when reporters are around.
The comments come at a time when India-US relations are closely watched, especially over trade, defence, energy, technology and wider geopolitical issues.
Gor has frequently described the relationship between New Delhi and Washington as strong and stressed the personal link between Modi and Trump.
Clown POTUS DoLund Trump TACO, the liar, ignores India's request to skip a press conference during his meeting with PM Modi at G7 summit
— Avinash K S🇮🇳 (@AvinashKS14) August 23, 2026
"He did a 45-minute press conference, and everything was on the table," US ambassador to India Sergio Gor admitted. pic.twitter.com/5u5asEd4oU
Gor’s speech also underscores that the two leaders’ personal connection is of great importance to the overall bilateral relationship. Trump has said that he remembers Modi’s support during the four years he was out of office and that that personal connection is an essential part of the relationship.
The ambassador’s remarks are of particular interest because relations between Modi and Trump have often attracted international attention. Their talks can be very sensitive, from tariffs and trade talks to defence cooperation, energy purchases, and regional security.
The two countries are also negotiating a bilateral trade deal. Gor recently said much of the agreement had been settled "in principle," and said the economic relationship between the two countries continues to expand.
The dispute over media questions may seem small, but the diplomatic choreography of high-level meetings is a very interesting thing to see. Governments generally coordinate press access and questioning in advance when the leaders are talking about sensitive bilateral issues.
Gor’s account suggests that the planned format changed once Trump began interacting directly with reporters. It also reflects the president’s well-known tendency to engage spontaneously with the press.
It is likely to fuel further discussion about the Modi-Trump relationship and how carefully managed diplomatic meetings may in the end go awry.
