WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are scheduled to hold a press conference on Thursday during Modi’s visit to Washington, according to the White House. This press briefing is a rare opportunity for the Indian leader to address the media directly.
While Modi did hold a press conference with former President Joe Biden in 2023, it is uncommon for him to engage with reporters outside of occasional interviews, which typically occur around election time. Since becoming prime minister in 2014, he has not conducted a single press conference in India. The last time he appeared at one was in May 2019, but he did not take any questions at that event.
Topics likely to be discussed between Modi and Trump include bilateral trade, energy cooperation, advancements in technology, and immigration issues. The joint press conference is scheduled for 5:10 PM Eastern Time (10:00 PM GMT), as announced by the White House.
During his earlier event with Biden, Modi responded to a question regarding religious discrimination in India by denying that such issues exist. This statement, however, faced criticism from human rights advocates who have highlighted various abuses faced by minority groups in the country. Subsequently, the journalist who asked the question received backlash online from Modi’s supporters, prompting a condemnation from the Biden administration regarding these attacks.
