It was very horrifying to see a picture of Trump walking with Modi in a beautiful garden, and then for the picture to change into a Muslim man cowering on the ground with his hands over his head and his clothes speckled with blood, while a group of Hindus stood around him beating him with a stick.
Excellent journalism by the Times, even if the subject matter is physically sickening.
68
@X The facts are different however, Anyone who actually understands the ongoing issue would know that it was simply politically motivated violence, intentionally orchestrated in the presence of Mr. Trump. Guess what, of course Islamist militants are the one behind it. The journalism by the Times in fact is below par, without giving the enough facts.
5
it's just as sickening to see him throwing flower petals on Ghandi's grave. Between the fact that there Indian government walled off a slim to prevent him from seeing it and the bigotry and hatred he embodies, I'm beyond disgusted that Modi would allow him to disgrace Ghandi's grave like that. Add in the fact that only orthodox VEGETARIAN AND FRESHLY CLEANED AND SPIRITUALLY CLENSED people are allowed to make changes to alters or holy sites. Just saying.
20
I watched some of the President’s press conference in India. He’s talking to a room full of confused Indians about "crying Chuck", and how Michelle Obama loved Harvey Weinstein and he funded Democrats so are they going to give the money back. He mispronounced just about everything about India. this guy is crazy and an absolute embarrassment to the USA.
89
Modern India learned the fine points of negotiating international trade deals with the British under Nehru and Ghandi. Modi is highly skilled in rhetoric & debate, the consummate master of "promise everything, deliver nothing" and played Trump like a cheap veena at U.S. taxpayers' expense with pomp, circumstance, and spectacle.
86
Even without this extravaganza and the two-day surreal drama, India and the US could have been better off only if the same effort was directed to improve the quality of life and governance at both the ends.
131
I am in Mumbai.
And this state visit has indeed been a big event - and a very successful - for both - India and America.
POTUS was asked how would he describe the event - a personal triumph, a cultural or a strategic.
He simply stated it was a friendship visit that showed his respects for India and his appreciation of culture, enthusiasm of Indians - and his acknowledgment of Indians succeeding in America.
He deftly skirted from commenting on this citizenship or Kashmir issues.
He acknowledged that bot Pakistan and India have been attempting to resolve this issue. And if they think America can help - he will be ready.
It is also important to point out that our POTUS made a history of ONLY coming to India.
And not just a stop on a tour of neighboring countries.
India has deeply appreciated this and are proud about it.
They feel that India has finally arrived on the world stage.
14
It's depressing living in Asia and realizing how little most of us know about the countries here or, worse, are interested in them. This story has been on-line for about a day now, and there are 239 comments. India is the largest democracy in the world and a solid counterweight to their neighbor, China, the largest dictatorship. The comment count on China stories too, which I guess is a proxy for number of readers and interest in the topic, is generally also much lower than, say, a Krugman rant about X or Y or anyone's story about Trump the Dictator.
.
I don't have much of a point here other than that the people in every other country in the world know about us, a lot and in great details, and they're catching up like crazy. If we want to remain the superpower on the hill, it's time to start understanding everyone else around the globe.
18
If you ever had any doubts, you now know what Trump means by "religious freedom."
24
Trump doesn't "see" a commitment to religious freedom on the part of PM Modi--he accepts Modi's ridiculous assertion of support for religious freedom at face value. It's exactly the same as his public statement that Putin and the Russians did not meddle in the 2016 election because Putin had told him they hadn't. Please exercise more care in choosing the words that define what the Occupant is doing.
22
“We feel very strongly about each other, and we have done something that is very unique.”
Just Donald Trump trying to make Kim Jong-un soooo jealous.”
14
Our "Impeached President" loves to brag about the special relationship he had with dictators...
Too bad he has NO special relations with Democratic presidents....
31
Has we ever had a more jaw droppingly embarrassing leader than Trump? Modi wants religious freedom!
21
To tell you the truth, I don't even know why the NYTimes has to even cover this trip. When has Trump said something with substance. I think it's a waste of time even reading about what Trump say to other leaders of the world... "Americans love you..", "It was beautiful talk...", "incredible people..." "believe me"..., "tremendous"..., "our relationship is so..." "incredible.." I am sick of his ignorance...
54
What an embarrassment. The impeached one keeps throwing peanuts at their God.
30
Of course Trump likes Modi. The man (Modi) is a proven bigot. In the end, Trump is simply a frontrunner: Whoever is in the lead, he will say "I love them"; however, if or when they fall down, he is the first to kick them while they are on the ground. He is a human version of cheap tabloid "journalism".
29
Who asked for this meeting?
9
I see a lot more trump hotels in India’s future.
29
Out of the country is good.... Hope he has a wonderful time... Maybe he can arrange to get his name on a building or golf course or two.
Should one really care what billionaires -- real or fake-- do.
10
I am heartily sick of the faux look of competence as evidenced in the lead photo from this totally incompetent play-president.
23
trump should feel quite at home with Modi, who is busy attacking the rights of India's 170M Muslims.
11:30 EST, 2/25; Reposted 20:05 EST, 2/25
17
@mancuroc
We have lost the exact number of soldiers in Kashmir to keep muslims safe.
I can't understand what kind of right you are talking about.
6
India and America- two democracies killed by their leaders and people.
24
Donald Teump doesn't understand who pays for tariffs.
Teump doesn't know how to govern a nation state.
Narendra Modi, like every foriegn leader, has more governing political experience than Donald Trump, his Cabinet and White House staff combined.
Modi knows how to flim flam and fool Trump with a flamboyant display of pageantry worthy of an ignorant incompetent intemperate insecure reality TV star.
28
Isn’t he there to understand how to codify the caste system here?
14
I'm really getting tired of seeing this blue-suited charlatan and his tribe; traveling, sightseeing and chowing down on the American taxpayers' nickel.
30
Did Trump also say how much he and Modi are “in love”?
Trump’s frequent pronouncements of love for people like Kim are strange at best.
12
You can bet that somewhere within a 10 minute walk, there’s a huge tub of hand sanitizer...
14
““We did talk about religious freedom, and I will say that the prime minister was incredible on what he told me,”...”.
Putin also reassured Trump he did not “meddle” during the 2016 election-and Trump believed him also.
What is the mentality of a person who takes what other despotic authoritarians say at face value when empirical evidence, such as the killing of Muslims in the streets of New Delhi, is present and cannot be swept under the rug?
He, Modi, wants people to have religious freedom. Hmm. Banned the sale and consumption of beef-a religious belief that some in India do not practice. Persecution of Muslims. Persecution of Kashmir people.
But, Trump himself has practiced bigotry against Muslims from certain countries, you know, a “hole” country, with the exceptions of countries that loan Trump money...
I suppose that given the crowd in the cricket stadium Trump can turn his back on bigotry and the restriction of people’s freedoms.
18
Have been yoga practitioner for 27 years; many Hindu rituals, mantras and meditations have entered my practice.
Seeing the hate that this fake guru Modi is whipping up in the name of religion makes me ill. I can in no good conscience chant any of the Hindu mantras and prayers anymore, as they are tainted by Modi and people who are beating up a Muslim in public.
25
I guess it is too much to expect some decorum from
Mr. Showman while laying flowers at Raj Ghat.
8
Why, in a country filled with so much spiritual Love, does trump look so angry?
I see no love or peace in his face.
8
Big boy is experiencing meatloaf withdrawal.
13
Great! Throwing rose peddles as the CDC announces the US is about to be set alight by COVID 19.
9
The irony is that Trump went to India to make an arms deal- and to look over his floundering real estate holdings. Truly, he makes my flesh crawl!
28
Instant gratification.
If the Times were involved with the negotiations, they would not be resolved instantly, either.
The Times simply will not credit this President with anything. Their whole goal is to make him look bad. In the process, they just look foolish and whiny. They view EVERYTHING having to do with our President from a negative perspective.
As far as India's immigration laws, that's none of our business. We don't have to weigh in on every issue in the world.
In this country, as far as liberals are concerned, ALL Republicans are second class citizens. Their ideas are dismissed without consideration...they aren't worthy of consideration (considering the source).
4
@Peter Rasmussen In defense of the NYT, it nat difficult to make Trump "look bad", all they have to do is report the truth and take photos.
20
Long on bluster, short on substance, with a heap o’ praise for a right-wing tribalist who displays a strong streak of authoritarianism and foments racial and religious intolerance that seems ready to burst into violence at the drop of a hat.
Yup. That’s our Fearless Leader Trump, all right. That’s the face we now show to the rest of the world. Makes you proud to be an American, don’t it?
8
We don't want any trade and H-1 visa deal with India. We have no need any more people from India when our graduate children are sitting at home and not getting job. H-1 visa for India and China should be banned permanently.Who are inside USA , should be deport urgently with out any excuse.
3
@liton We do? I thought we had "the greatest economy in the history of the world for all time, ever"
3
@liton Agreed. Corporations can pay H1 people less. We do not need any more of these. There are plenty of science grad students here to fill those positions as well as Bachelor degree grads.
3
President Trump is right to be furious over Americans infected with coronavirus being allowed to return to this county. Allowing people who have the potential of making millions of Americans sick to return here is outrageous and foolhardy. So Donald, please make yourself comfortable in India until you are no longer able able wreak havoc from the Oval Office. Thanks for understanding.
16
Has it occurred to anyone that this riot was orchestrated and timed by Modi’s political opponents for maximum impact and embarrassment?
8
The federal government needs to protect IT workers jobs.
Lower wages are not an excuse to allow companies like Southern California Edison to displace US workers with immigrants from India.
This is not a political problem. It is an economic problem.
SCE forced current employees to train Indian replacements or they would lose their severance pay. Nice-not!
Since Trump is really into helping his corporate friends, and Modi his rich elite friends, not much will happen. Now that they have been discovered, SCE is working with Indian support persons based in Mexico to avoid the visa requirements.
8
“We did talk about religious freedom, and I will say that the prime minister ... wants people to have religious freedom, and very strongly.”
" I don't have any reason to not not believe he didn't not mean to have said that"
Oh how I long for the day when hearing a President speak imparts some truth.
17
@GP Soon, he'll be gone. Maybe both of them. Trump truth is untruth. Modi wants religious freedom? Ya right.
3
Well, let's see now: Trump has made "tremendous progress" in his talks with North Korea, South Korea, China, the G-7 and G-20 summits, and now, India.
And yet...what have we Americans to show for all of this:
Tense global relations, hostile tariffs, shaky geopolitical standoffs, and an unpredictable economic future.
Good job, Mr. President!
13
For a country like US which prides itself on championing religious freedoms and democratic values, this is a new low.
At a time when millions in India will be rendered ‘stateless’ in violation of international laws and human rights, when millions are protesting against religious bigotry and when the entire state of Kashmir has been put under curfew by use of excessive force, a visit by POTUS validates the measures of an extremist regime. Especially when the POTUS explicitly and intentionally makes the point of ignoring those protesting for their rights as citizens and minorities. Remaining mummed in order to appease authoritarian and toxic leaders has not worked out in past and will not work today. This hypocrisy caused us millions of lives before. It will cost us many more today.
16
@Muhammad Ali What kind of a regime does a country have in which Minority have only shrunk in size in the last 7 decades? Oh wait! Your country doesn't have a government it is run by the army who openly supports Terrorist in all over Pakistan! And you don't need to send potus to comfirm that it was confirmed when US killed bin laden in Pakistan! And what about the people of Balochistan and POK? They are not a minority in Pakistan still they are living in the worst of conditions. We all know who has caused millions of death in the past, It's the terrorist organisation working out of Pakistan and killing millions of people in the world no organisation has to prove that mate the whole world knows it! And Pakistan should really think about feeding it's own people first then talk about what is happening in other countries!
3
It feels really good to imagine, for just a moment, that trump would stay in India until his term is over.
12
@John M John, if you are going to wish, wish he would never come back.
5
I really wish he would stop using the term ‘deal’, it just seems tacky. I do believe that they are international ‘agreements’ sometimes ‘treaties’. I know it’s a bit of a trademark for him, but really, he is pretending to be the President of the United States. The actors that have preceded him in office have at least played the part.
10
Will there be a visit to any US outposts in Bangalore? How many Fortune 500 have Gehrig IT operations substantially positioned there?
8
it's not just technology based in Bengaluru but also the multitude of operations teams that service banks, mnc's, you name it (not just American companies either... all over the world)
if India goes down, i don't think anyone has a sufficiently decent business continuity plan to cover the carnage that would result
1
Amazing isn't it that Trump always brags about his "special relationship" with dictators and authoritarians, but doesn't seem to have any "special relationship(s)" with leaders of democracies?!!
89
@Anthony Well, I don't like Modi and he is indeed authoritarian but he was elected far more democratically than Trump unfortunately. But in both situations, it's the dominant group/class voting someone who disavows secularism and ostensibly claims to fight for that group (Modi may even be a true believer, unlike Trump).
8
@Anthony - good morning!! India is a democratic country and has its leader "elected" by the people.
1
@Anthony
He knows we know what the democracy leaders really think of him. He also knows they aren't afraid of embarrassing him in public.
He's burned all those bridges by insulting and deriding them publicly, making threats over NATO, and aligning himself with traditional enemies not to mention abandoning allies.
Best to avoid them - if they want anything to do with him anymore anyway.
Most will be biding their time until a new POTUS is elected and relationships can be built up again. They will be waiting for this nightmare to be over.
1
We don’t need yet another free trade deal with a low wage country, that doesn’t even include climate change commitments.
It’s Pelosi’s job now to keep Trump a lame duck until the people have spoken in November.
36
@Liz
Let me give you some facts about your misinformation!
India is part of the Paris agreement, Guess who isn't!
India's emission is half of what US emits!
India was one of the best performers in Paris commitments to limit warming to 1.5 degree. While U.S warming at a rate of 3.5 degree's per year in 1990.
India is investing More than africa and Middle east combined in renewable energy.
So please don't remain uninformed and use google once in a while it is run by an Indian who trust me earns a very high vage!
8
Breaking News:
It is striking to see PM Modi wearing pink pants under a pink skirt. He seems not to understand Trump at all. Pink is not Trump's favorite color, it's Aerosmith's. Trump favors a pale shade of orange. But there is plenty of time to go home and change skirt, Mr. Modi. And pants.
13
And your point is??
2
My God, Brahma, whatever: This is scary. I cannot believe that Trump has the where-with-all to deal with as complex a situation as is South Central Asia. The pic of the Muslim being beaten is haunting. An I would nominate for 'Picture of the Year, Thus Far.'
Allah knows what's coming next. In sh'Allah.
18
I'm sorry, what was the 'unique' thing that happened between Trump and Modi? I missed it. How much longer do we have to listen to this insecure little man? 'Largest crowd, best welcome, fabulous things happening'! God help us!
69
... but that chocolate cake!
7
A bigly Nothing-Burger!
The world's agog, looking at two narcissists putting on a show to get their share of "Likes".
With their respective countries on fire!
40
India-US relations are for the long haul and Trump and Modi are bit players in a bigger drama. This visit has less to do with persons occupying the chairs than global affairs and strategies.
11
I read on another news site that at the ashram for Gandhi, one of the best chefs in India made a vegetarian meal for high tea for Mr. and Mrs. Trump and included American desserts of apple pie and chocolate chip cookies. Mr. and Mrs. Trump refused to even taste anything. They left without a nibble or any thanks to the chef.
To me, this seems devoid of any class, diplomacy, decorum, or politeness.
Meanwhile, the hotel Trump is staying in said they stocked his refrigerator with cherry ice cream and diet Cokes and will cook anything he wants.
Trump certainly knows how to insult people.
82
@Linda - are you just realizing this?
29
@Linda
I loath trump and expect nothing but bad behavior from him, but I was shocked at his refusing to even try the food prepared for him. Just when I think he can't go any lower....
19
@Linda
You do know the president has a taster? )All of them do.) Poisoning or food poisoning are all unpleasant... and Mt. Trump is not known for having particularly far-reaching tastes. Melania can't eat that much and maintain her shape.
Here is a case where Trump may well be correct in his actions. An odd spice, extra salt or sugar even can set one's system off in all kinds of unpleasant ways.
He was in India for two days. Does the NYT expect a trade deal to be negotiated in that time frame? Maybe what Trump said is correct - they made progress. Considering where US/India relations were 20 years ago, (and all credit to Bush II), any progress is good progress.
7
@Wilbur Clark, the same "progress" he's made with North Korea?!
23
For @Wilbur Clark's benefit, the way state visits work to any foreign land, our government has an "advance team" that goes and begins activities months in advance, for the actual visit.
They work out details, negotiate, and if successful, they get a 99% agreement that awaits the final signature. In very complex situations, they will get very close and wait for the leaders to iron-out details through a hand-shake.
This visit was a failure because not only did the advance team(s) fail, so did trump.
Even though his handlers would have told him correct ways to behave, he chose to insulted many people during his visit.
No surprise there. The clown won!
22
@Wilbur Clark no. The good relations were actually started by President Clinton. Bush didn’t mess it up and Obama made it even better. Trump is looking to build more Trump towers and further his interests in India.
26
The picture of the man on the ground being beaten by a mob is reminiscent of scenes from Civil Rights and Vietnam protests in this country during the sixties. Chilling.
27
@Carlton James except that during the Civil Rights movement, those attacked did not fight back, but used peaceful, direct action and non-violent resistance to put their bodies in the line for freedom and equality. It wasn't until after Dr. King's assassination that the riots occurred and even then, the targets were businesses, not people. The rioters were NOT part of our movement!
Similar things could be said of the anti-Vietnam War protests.
2
That's what "The Art of the Deal" really means: "A Great Deal of Talk."
19
Trump cannot negotiate with others because his weak self esteem will not allow the give and take that it requires. He relies upon intimidation and exploiting other people’s needs to compel them into complying with his demands. Apparently India cannot be intimidated for now.
19
How many times have I read that Hinduism is a tolerant religion, unlike Christianity? But the day Trump visits, photos of Hindu violence on the front page.
8
@Thomas toolan ski
On the surface only, and in lore. Actually, India is quite a violent country. Remember the "Sepoy-Mutiny" in the 19th century? Or just watch: "Jewel in the Crown".
3
@Thomas toolan ski - Most religions are peaceful and tolerant, except when they aren't, which is way too often in my opinion.
6
@flyer78 & @Thomas toolan ski
Hinduism is a tolerant religion and so may be Christianity. However, there are extremists among practitioners of all religions.
I suggest you update your knowledge of India past the "Sepoy-Mutiny" or the "First War of Independence" as it is considered in India. By that token, the United States is a violent country based on the Revolutionary War or the Civil War.
Similarly, there are better and more current perspectives of India than the 1984-85 show "Jewel in the Crown" set during British imperialistic rule of India.
That said, the current wave of Hindu Nationalism and sectarian violence in India cannot be condoned or defended.
1
Smoke and mirrors from a do nothing (of any importance) President. He certainly never looks gracious or even interested in the person whose hand he holds. Just another way of escaping the reality of the running the US. Easier to lie and play hide and seek. No policy forthcoming, but more travel money wasted while we have a growing deficit and now a tanking economy. I heard a British economist today say "All world markets were riding a positive wave last year" so when Trump acts like he did this for the economy, it was a no brainer and he did very little to make things better.
15
Another Trump love-fest visit with another brutal leader who, like Trump, wants to punish and squash all dissent while he willfully divides his people and ignores racial violence.
A meeting of mini-minds.
Trump enjoys the phony mass adulation at the stadium and pushes for trade deals in support of Exxon and Harley Davidson.
Meanwhile in a suburb of the city hosting this entertainment extravaganza for the benefit of Trump, Jared and Ivanka, people are being beaten to death in the streets by angry mobs.
Grotesque.
19
@fast/furious, remember also that in India walls were erected to keep some members of the population locked away and away from Trump and the media.
7
No US trade deals. How many personal Trump deals?
25
@Dustin Mackie I just saw a photo of Ivanka there as well, so he had his back door dealer with him.
2
The dotard is only in India to get a progress report on the buildings he is having built there. As usual, it is a family junket at the taxpayers expense.
I doubt India will rush to any trade deal with the US.
29
@Sharon Phillips
It’s not clear that he’s building anything there. The trump mob is there to support “the brand” and check on licensing and royalty arrangements.
To be honest I'm not an economist to understand the trade talks but as a humane being, the picture of a defenseless man being hacked to death will stay with me for a long time. How could a humane presumable veterinarian do this to another humane? Shame on you Modi and your alike.
14
Wonder if the Trump campaign paid for ALL the white baseball caps worn by the vast majority of people in the stadium? I am sure this trip was to reassure DJT base that he is still a 'player' on the national stage. Too bad he is not more judicious about who's stage he visits.
8
Riling up extremists where ever he goes. Thank you Rebuplicans, you've enabled this man and you are more to blame than him!
20
“…we may make a tremendous deal there…”
Actually win/win trade flows freely (i.e., zero tariffs) from comparative advantage. It does not have to be “negotiated”. No deal is necessary.
Under free trade the US might be buying vegetarian milk from India, and India would be buying more Boeing commercial aircraft and Harley-Davidson motorcycles.
First post: 2/25/2020 1:50 pm
2
One ethnic nationalist meeting another ethnic nationalist with violent and deadly protests take place a couple of streets over. It's just pure racial hatred on Modi's part. Trump would love to see an all white America.
12
I guess Jared and a Ivanka are keeping a low profile while they’re touring India at taxpayer expense. Maybe Ivanka will be granted some special deals with India like the copyrights she got from China.
https://www.hindustantimes.com/more-lifestyle/ivanka-trump-and-husband-jared-kushner-take-tour-of-taj-mahal-see-pics/story-HjLjVVCob8oQMH8RD5Lk2J.html
20
This is just a photo op meeting between two narcissistic showmen and failed politicians
15
Trump is a profoundly ignorant man, shallow, with almost no substance. His trips to foreign shores are a photo op, parades, and using the dais to spread his pathological lies. On this India trip, aside from his inability to correctly pronounce names of Indian politicians & cricket players, Trump hasn't been a major embarrassment as yet. Fingers crossed and knock on wood!
7
When is the LIAR to be believed?
7
The close strategic mutually beneficial friendship between the 2 greatest democracies in the world, USA and India has long been awaited by the people of both countries. Having lived through the struggle for the liberation of the people of East Pakistan, now Bangladesh during the appalling Nixon years when he sent the sixth fleet through the Indian ocean to the bay of Bengal, north of the Indian ocean to attack the Mukti bahini (liberation army) by siding with the brutal dictator Yahya Khan's barbaric army led by General Tikka khan's army committing a genocide and rapes with the goal to leave behind a generation of illegitimate children, I cannot believe how far the US has come. Trump places the USA first and Modi places India first. Both want to make their respective countries great. Neither are push overs and symbolism and the glamorous optics are a beginning of an unprecedent sea change that will take place if India buys 3+ billion dollars of made in USA defense equipment. According to Fortune, last week, India’s cabinet cleared $2.6 billion purchase from Lockheed Martin Corp. of 24 multi-role MH-60R Seahawk maritime helicopters to Indian navy. The State Department has also approved a potential sale to India of $1.8 billion in arms, including air-defense radars and missiles, rifles and other equipment, the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced.The president also mentioned purchase of Appache helicopters
Trump visit was the most consequential visit to India
6
@Girish Kotwal
The people of India need better housing, garbage collection sewage treatment plants etc, a lot more than they need weapons and helicopters. NGOs are helping the country as are some local wealthy families who are sponsoring training schools for village people. One magnate I met on my trip there a number of years ago has built a museum to promote local artisans work in terra-cotta, and another family has built an organic farm, a textile school and a museum of textiles. Not sure what Modi has accomplished himself.
3
@Girish Kotwal
The two greatest dictators perhaps. Modi appears to be
an anti-Muslim zealot. The weapons will help with that.
1
Trump shills for Kim. Trump shills for Putin. Trump shills for Modi. Trump shills for Adar. Trump shills for oligarchs and despots. This is the President of the US.
11
Sadly, this is the president of the US.
6
Donald Trump is so intellectually defunct that he can't process the fact that world leaders who are true politicians not the Fake one such as Trump have studied him enough to know that if you stroke him, like youdo your family pet, if you feed him like you feed your family during Holiday Season, if you put on a Party as if it were New Year's Eve, his ego, his narcissism will get the best of him and his entourage however, at the end of the day, each world leader who will profess their "love to him" as a married man who professes his love for the Mistress, in essence, false love, they will do whatever is necessary to retain their power, their people, their status, their personal wealth, they don't care about Trump, he is too lame to see it, they consider him inept, even if they are dictators, he is lame he is someone to use and discard Modi is no different, than Xi, Putin, Saudi Prince, Kim Jong Un, he is looked at as if he were a lackie, it is a matter of time before the Justice System in the US catches up to this corrupt man and his Administration, they don't want to get into a "deal" with someone who first is going to be gone prior to the election, second someone they can't trust in the long term they see how it turned out for Iran, the Pacific Trade agreement, as Rick Wilson States, they know everything Trump touches turns to poison, the people not understanding is his base, why they follow this false prophet(he calls himself the second Coming) is beyond understanding.
10
@Rachel Quesnel
In spite of everything, I believe that Trump's day is coming. He can't defy gravity forever. In June, the Supreme Court will decide the Deutsche Bank case, and I have a feeling that when those records get released, defending him is going to become increasingly untenable. Continuing to be a Trump apologist will become too ridiculous even for a Trump apologist.
“…a $3 billion arms purchase…”
Is India using their own funds to purchase the arms, or are we lending them the money (Export-Import Bank for example)?
First post: 2/25/2020 2:00 pm
5
@Keynes
I had heard on NPR Talk of the Nation in 1998, that USA wants to sell Helicopters to India, and have some sort of presence in Kashmir, like Human Personnel or Drone type.
Understand Why American Gujrathis take pride in Mr. Trump. An American Gujju is called Patel-Motel-Hotel, becoz they own grocery stores, 7-11s, Dunkin Donuts, Motels, and a few Hotels. It is their man in the White house, a Hotelier
No trade deal but three billion worth military deal. Trump has done what most US presidents would do on an Asian tour. Sell the military wares citing real or perceived 'threats'.
7
@An Island
I had to laugh that he is taking credit for this sale. These kinds of sales are years in the making. It had nothing to do with him.
10
That's the good thing about Trump. No lightweight agreements for agreement's sake. As it stands, Trump has more trade wins that Obama ever had. Obama's foreign policy track record was so bereft of accomplishments, that he bent over backwards for the Iranians to get them to do a bogus nuclear deal. He literally shipped over cash on planes to get them to say yes. Trump fixed that...and China ..Japan ...Korea ...Mexico ...and Canada. When India is ready to play fair, they will get a deal too. Look, they need it more than we do.
2
@TL Don’t try to gaslight Trump’s North Korean escapades out of our minds.
11
Your comment on shipping cash is not factual. It was Iran's money, previously held by sanctions. Returning monies to their rightful owner is exactly what should have happened.
16
Umm... This is another lied by Trump that has been fact-checked time and time again. The money wasn’t ours, it was Iran’s assets held mostly in foreign banks, not US banks, which had been frozen as part of the sanctions in the nuclear agreement, which involved other countries, besides the US. Iran got some of their assets back, most of it not usable, when some of the sanctions were lifted.
11
Trump's blathering never ceases to amaze as he oscillates between self-proclaimed accomplishments and adulations never before seen, while denying, deflecting and distorting reality as he babbles about issues such as religious freedom, trade deals, and international virus epidemics, all topics he knows little about.
36
India is still a very poor country. To treat India on par with the USA in a trade deal would be a travesty. In addition to grinding poverty, India is surrounded by hostile countries like China and Pakistan. So, it’s defense expenditure has to be abnormally high. That is where the trade deal in defense equipment comes. Letting the US agro conglomerates run rampant will destroy millions of small INDIAN farmers as was done in South America.
9
@Humanist India's economy is the 5th largest in the world, ahead of UK and France. Not a "very" poor country.
2
@arunash It is if you compare per capita GDP. According to the CIA World Factbook, The average Indian about 1/6th as rich as the average French or British person.
Per capita GDP:
India--$7200 (ranked 157)
France--$43800 (ranked 41)
UK--$44100 (ranked 39)
5
“We’re being charged large amounts of tariffs, and they can’t do that,” Mr. Trump said. “I want reciprocal.”
Try parsing that.
16
@Tomás That's how the brain of the president of the United States works.
Pretty scary! No wonder we are the laughing stock of the rest of the world.
1
I shudder each time Trump goes abroad: Who will he insult? What will he give away? What will it cost the taxpayers for his family to accompany him? How many new Trump Towers can he build?
30
@LGL Personally, I'm always glad of the brief respite we get here back home when he is abroad. Maybe we could build a great, big, beautiful wall high enough to keep him out so he can't fly home again?
3
Who knew trade deals could be so complicated?
17
The only trade agreement Trump has successfully negotiated is US-MCA. The only reason that even happened was a vain attempt by the GOP to win the 2018 mid-terms. Countries should not hold out hope of negotiating reasonable and long lasting deals with this administration. The will and effort simply isn't there.
7
@WillD, the USMCA was almost entirely negotiated by Obama. Trump managed to renegotiate six relatively items from the deal handed to Trump from Obama.
7
No trade deal for the US--but I'm willing to bet that Trump spent his time in India working deals for his "brand." I won't be surprised if India hosts another Trump resort.
31
No such chance. The one TT apartments in Bombay is sitting with very low occupancy, and declining resale prices.
13
@Tamza Never stopped the impeached one before. Likely all his real estate holdings have rigged values for each set of books. At least one property in upstate New York is a prime example. Claim a low value for tax deferral then increase the value ten-fold to borrow against. Follow the money.
4
the whole tone of this article is rather negative. It would benefit the U.S. greatly to negotiate a better deal with India vs: lowering tariffs India charges for U.S. goods, removing the Indian law that any company there can allow only 1% "foreign" labor (while we have tech companies here with 70% foreigners and mostly Indian visa workers. I lived and worked in Silicon Valley for 30 years and witnessed first hand the prejudice and lack of interest of Indian recruiting firms like Tata and Infosys to even hire anyone but Indians. Why do we allow so many from India to have our jobs when they have almost zero reciprocity? Does not make sense. We need someone to renegotiate this. So lets give Trump some support. Dissing him every second is just sour grapes.
7
@KB - Instead of us trying to tell India how to run itself, it would be easier for us to just change our own laws if we don't want to have that many foreigners working here. Pretty simple, if you ask me.
5
Agree. The H1B quota is DRIVEN by the likes of FB Google Apple. There are dozens of Apple ‘dedicated’ buildings in Silicon Valley with [just about] all H1B Indian workers. The places smell of curry. Perpetuates the lack of interest in STEM by US students.
4
@KB It benefit the U.S. to drastically lower education costs thus making feasible for Americans to go into the tech jobs. The foreigners are willing to work for less here which does take the jobs away, nevertheless they pay pretty well but not if you have huge student loans to pay. ITI the Indian technical institute is a top rated university. Also do you really believe Americans want to move to India and take jobs at Indian wages?
India is right to protect their economy from the American vultures.
2
I say increase tariffs on whatever Indian companies make that Americans buy. It was a nice try, but India doesn't give a hoot.
3
Hopefully America is out of its Cold War mindset which discriminated against Democratic India. Bill Clinton stupidly built Communist China's economy by giving it "Most Favored Nation " status without ever demanding Democratic Reforms, despite CIA's warning in 1991 that China will be the next adversary. Result is $500 Billion of US Trade Deficit with China. Now China acts as the bully in the World. It is time for a major shift in America's strategic thinking to develop a close trade and security relationship with Democratic India.
11
@sKrishna ;Agree. we put China in a Marshall plan and they are a fierce competitor . We do not need to support their economy so Walmart can be successful.
10
Yeah, he’s making a deal for more Trump hotels, golf courses, etc.
20
A great visit by a great US President to India which will strengthen the two most powerful democracies together for future actions to asperity and security in the world.Both the countries need each other on many fronts for cooperation.
4
@Rishi I see that Hindus were beating Muslims to death in the streets - not a good sign nor good pics for Trump's visit. If he does already know of the deadly violence, I'm sure that he took quite a lightheartedly.
Corruption is one of India's greatest shortcomings. Do you think American businesses and government can be confident that all of their future investments and business activity in India can be done in a" provably straight" way?
Donald Trump clearly loves big crowds and parades. And Modi clearly knows exactly how to play that game.
15
“We think we’re at a point where our relationship is so special with India, it has never been as good as it is now,” Mr. Trump said. “We feel very strongly about each other, and we have done something that is very unique.”
Well, there he goes, looking for love in all the wrong places...again.
37
@shebee - I wonder if Modi will be sending Trump large love letters. You can see how that worked out with Little Kim.
6
Both do nothings in terms of real policy making. They are too busy worrying about their images as tyrants.
21
Trump's reputation e.g., total lack of honesty and decency for starters, means he will never "make a deal" at any point in the remainder of his term. He's too sleazy and underhanded.
29
@T3D to continue.... He's too sleazy and underhanded for anyone or any nation to trust.
3
Where are the church leaders, the so-called Christians in the South, that support Trump, as he praises Modi - Modi! - for religious freedom as a Hindu theocracy is set up? Rank hypocrisy. Do they have no morality, no red lines, no principles left?
51
religious freedom only counts when it's YOUR religion
1
In other words, another Trump fail. Tremendous!
29
It is too bad that while Ivanka was posing at the Taj Mahal like Princess Diana she didn't go and visit the poor of India like the Princess did. Do these people have any shame at all?
67
@mnc - Shame is not a word that is in the Trump dictionary.
7
@mnc No, they don't know what shame is. Ivanka's over-the-top costumes are annoying. For instance, the super veil she wore to see the Pope, and her outfit in Dubai which no Dubai woman would wear in public.
5
@mnc Don't expect Princess Ivanka to visit children with AIDS or visit children who have had their legs blown off by landmines like Princess Diana did. Ivanka doesn't want to get her clothes dirty.
10
“we may make a tremendous deal there”
Translation: "we will make tremendous hot air there.....the greatest hot air bloviation in history"
The Art Of Hot Air: Donald Trump's Life Story
Sad.
193
"The art of the no deal..."
39
Why does trump feel the need to trash and insult other politicians when he is out of the country?
Is he so insecure that he needs constantly to belittle others and big himself up?
It’s childlike and pathetic. Not what you would expect of a President.
37
@Lazza May
Trump also trashed Justices Sotomayor and Ginsberg.
4
@Lazza May:
Why do you believe trump is a President?
He's just playing one on TV.
@Lazza May
His cult is glued to right-wing media so that they can catch up on and cheer his latest provocation. It’s their lifeblood.
I love my dogs. I would NEVER feed them anything made in China, India or any other country in those regions. I want my government to stop forcing me to take medications made in those countries. Their hygiene is NOT up to my standards. Why am I being forced to take meds there?
It is time for DE-globalization!
3
Sure. Then stop exporting to those countries as well and service only US. Can't be a one-sided affair.
6
He loved the Taj Mahal and said it would make a great casino.
69
Trump's claim that a deal is close is just the latest example of his ability to lie as easily as he breathes.
My guess is he prepared for his visit to India by watching the 1935 Gary Cooper movie "Lives of a Bengal Lancer" on Air Force One.
17
Modi will send him a love letter next week and Trump will proclaim a major breakthrough. Trump's statements have become totally unbelievable bordering on laughable. His statements on Monday that the corona virus would subside once warmer weather arrived had no supportable basis at all.
22
More of the reality TV show presidency... stay tuned next week for... typical of every so-called "great" deal; lot of flash, short on substance.
15
How hard is it to get 100000 people to a free reality show in New Delhi?
12
@northlander
It was in Ahmedabad in Modi's home state of Gujarat. Lots of low income people there so not hard to put them on buses with gifts of clothing and probably some samosas to get them to come. Some of them probably came from that walled off slum.
All he wants to do is sell guns to India
Oh great.
The world is on fire.
And the solution is guns.
These two deserve each ohter.
I want Ghandi
I want Obama
87
I want OUT!
16
you don't want Ghandi. he was not the person people believe he was. i would suggest checking that one up.
here's a starter for ten, he was incredibly racist. even wrote as much when he was a lawyer in South Africa. hated the African folk and couldn't understand why the Europeans were racist towards Indians
Obama? 1000x yes
NYTimes can you please report on how this supposed closeness between the governments of the US and India are impacting Pakistan, internally, politically, as a counter-terrorism partner for the US, and from their own security point of view. As usual the Trump teams seems to behave with Zero statecraft
17
Remind me again why I’m paying for Jared and Ivanka to tag along, taking selfies in front of the Taj Mahal?
The whole grifting family is truly disgusting.
301
@Mike Schmidt Promote Trump real estate holdings which are not doing well. India is second largest location of Trump family buildings.
22
@Mike Schmidt We are also paying Jared and Ivanka $180,000 a year for their "advice." Just more nepotism and corruption.
13
@Dave:
We're paying much more than that.
Each gets reimbursed for "clothing expenses", "upkeep", "hired staff", travel allowances, healthcare and other benefits, a lifetime of retirement benefits, ..... we'll be paying for Mr. Robot and Ms. Dracula (Dravanka?) forever!
17
How many trademarks did Ivanka buy? That's the real best test of success.
58
@John
She was shopping for the best slave labor deal.
I am in Mumbai.
I think this visit made bother countries look good.
Our POTUS– known for saying rather inappropriate things – he was totally in control here.
I know this report does not include his press conference which I watched.
Like any other foreigners, he stumbled on Kashmir – offering to help resolve the issue.
That's akin to saying we will help China resolve Taiwan issue which China will angrily reject.
But the First Couple – and especially the FLOTUS went out of her way to the sensitivities of Indian culture.
India while it has some potential – for trade – let's be honest, it will be a footnote when it comes to American trades with others.
India with it's xenophobic and split personality of loving all thing foreign and especially American but making it impossible for foreigners to play a meaningful role – will meddle along.
Just ask Amazon, Walmart and other foreign companies how difficult it is to operate here.
So, I give credit to POTUS that he did not enter into an agreement just for the sake of it.
All in all – this was a very successful visit – and I am expecting the Chinese - currently thru their masks –must not have been very happy.
4
@Neil
Nice try.
Not buying it.
He is ignorant, uninformed, crass, and cringe worthy.
An embarasment wherever he goes
108
@r mackinnon. In the beginning was Trump. And all that is wrong flows from him.
That is the fact-challenged mantra that caused Hillary to lose in 2016 and, with the 2020 clown car full of Democrat contenders and confused Democrat voters, cause them to lose again.
4
@Neil So nothing was achieved/no deals signed, but it was "a very successful visit."
I guess the fact that you are in Bombay gives your words authority, despite the message being rather oxymoronic.
5
So 125,000 people showed up to see Trump. I guess they wanted to see the WORST U.S. President in person.
58
“....as a conduit for suppression and censorship.”
This excerpt was from Trump’s babble about the internet in India. Yet, Trump and his toadies, Pompeo being one, are quick to ban journalists who dare question their motives, and wisdom.
Aside from that, quite the spectacle of a dog and pony show along with the expense billed to the taxpayers in both countries for little return.
78
I realize trump didn’t write the prepared remarks he delivered about India’s suppression of free speech on the Internet, since I can’t imagine he knows what the word ‘conduit’ means. But the rank hypocrisy of him criticizing another leader about free speech, given his administration’s increasing suppression of ANY criticism of trump’s actions and policies, stinks so much I can smell it from here.
133
@Larry What supression? Please list his actions to suppress criticism e.g. arrests, detentions, newspaper shutdowns, laws, regulations, violence. Are you talking about Trumps criticism of the press, i.e. SAYING mean things about them? It is not the smart way of dealing with them but it is not suppression.
1
lol! No trade deal breakthroughs. I've heard this before when our previous New Zealand PM visited India wanting a free trade agreement. A nation of scammers and counterfeiters who are great at reproducing false documentation, citizenship certificates and passports.
9
Surprised you didn’t put in “terrible cricketers” while you were at it :).
4
trump = lots of sizzle, minimal steak. (he will make up later that whatever happens is what he wanted.
17
@dk
I think He did not want to be the President, but yet they still made him the President, now maybe He still wants a Second term. If you still believe Presidents are elected, you are wasting your internet time.
Donald "no breakthrough" Trump. Wake up 63 million Americans. And he has a majority in the senate. All we're seeing is a return to the stone age.
41
During ‘little bush’s time’ the expression ‘all hat no cattle’ would describe such alleged negotiations!
10
Don't worry. The world's worse negotiator (trump) will give away the store.
22
Trump reports progress...
The lying continues.
32
Why are you wasting your time quoting Mr Trump? It is more likely than not that he is lying or mistaken. We know that he is one of the world’s worst negotiators. If he is involved, the prospects are poor.
30
It is better to work on trade deals than to be at war.
It is better yet to stand for American principles like justice and freedom.
To be attending rallies and reviewing troops on horseback while the city around you burns...conjures up visions of "The Ugly American".
This is what you get after three years of mercantilism and Anti-Islamism.
If its Tuesday we must be in Delhi talking about Exxon-Mobil letters of intent.
10
It is sadly laughable that anyone at all thinks Trump accomplished anything at all on this trip.
34
Most visitors gently drop the petals onto the memorial of a dignified leader to show respect. Not splash up high in the air. Classic classless TRUMP!
57
@Vinny I saw a two-year-old flower girl at a wedding throw the petals exactly the same way Trump is doing.
3
@Linda
Exactly - a two year old is what he acts like.
3
So glad to have had my honest tax dollars used for a whirlwind first class trip to teh Taj Mahal to entertain for the Trump family. (including the ubiquitous Instagram fake diplomats Jarvanka)
Speaking of taxes .....
116
just like everything else trump, it all talk and no substance.
61
Modi is aware of trumps ignorance and will play him as other world leaders have done. Give trump all the adulation: big celebration, 100,000 cheering in a stadium. That should keep,the infant mind happy.
When it comes to real world issues, Modi isn’t a fool.
124
No trade agreements, true, but in a rare show of unity, the diverse people of India and Prime Minister Modi were unreceptive as a whole towards President Trump's "win-win" proposal for the United States to purchase the Taj Mahal.
22
India faces immense economic and social inequality and poverty with millions of people living in areas without clean water, sewage treatment, staggering levels of environmental pollution, lack of public transportation, etc. Roughly, 2/3 of the Indian population (circa 850 million people) subsist on less than $2 day. Despite widespread poverty, malnutrition and pollution, India spent an estimated $64 billion on the military in 2018, 5th highest in the world. Instead of addressing India’s endemic structural economic problems, Modi has continued spending astronomical sums of money on the military and promoted anti-Muslim bigotry to distract Indian citizens from endemic corruption and poverty. Modi’s Citizenship Law/pogrom against Muslims along with his ongoing threats against Pakistan are part of this program. Modi’s campaign is assisted by the Hindu religion, which serves to continuously disorient and confuse the population.
Notes
1. Poverty in India: Facts and Figures on the Daily Struggle for Survival Link:
www.soschildrensvillages.ca/news/poverty-in-india-602
2. The 15 countries with the highest military budgets in 2017 by Daniel Brown May 2, 2018; Link: www.businessinsider.com/highest-military-budgets-countries-2018-5
58
@Paul in the last sentence, replace modi with trump and Hindu with the gop!
10
@Paul Good points until you revealed your Hindophobia. Yes. India spends way too much of our precious tax money on the millitary. But we simply cannot afford not to, with hostile neighbors like Pakistan and to some extent China. Coming back to your comment, its amazing how criticism of India by liberals especially eventually leads to criticism of the Hindu religion. I don't want to support Modi, but if he is the only one standing up for Hindus against liberals in India and abroad, I have no choice.
6
@Paul It's fair to question if any country should spend what it does on its military. Even more for a country like India, given the many developmental and poverty challenges. On the flip side, India is in a tense neighborhood with a history of sporadic conflict over the last 70 years. For the world's 5th largest economy to have the 5th largest military budget, is perhaps not as far out of line as it first appears.
I was pleasantly surprised that India has made steady gains in development terms in recent years. Even more surprised that our president made claims in a speech that largely held up under fact checking
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-51615907
1
Wondrous to see President Trump and the First Lady throwing rose petals into the air at Ghandi-Ji's Raj Ghat memorial. Delhi looked like a Potemkin Village under Prime Minister Modi during Trump's 36 hour whirlwind visit to India. India's rival countries, Pakistan and Bangladesh weren't in view on this trip. Modi, not very friendly toward Muslims (like Trump), gloried in his visit with our President. It was a love fest, according to Donald Trump.
15
Thankfully the New York Times in this instance didn’t take Trump at his word. Nothing happened on trade with India and Trump is pretending it did.
It’s like Trump’s EU trade deal which never occurred, his peace treaty with North Korea, and all the rest. All a bunch of lies to puff himself up.
129
There is a joke here that Trump does not get and it is impossible for him to get. India and China will one day rule the world. They are different and have different skills and will offer different choices in the future, but it will be their time and the US will just be gasping.
24
@Susan Kuhlman Hogwash. They have labor that is willing to work for a fraction of what labor in developed countries will because the QoL is much lower in those places. There is nothing special about them.
7
It may sound like a joke, but don't forget that about two hundred years ago India and China accounted for over 60 percent of the world's wealth. It was Indian wealth that was used to rescue the banking crisis in Europe in the mid 1700s, wealth that was stolen by force by the English. The cycle may repeat.
24
@Max duPont So you are saying that it doesn't matter how much wealth a country can accumulate if they can't physically protect it? Interesting.....
1
Traveling 8,000 miles for another campaign rally at government expense shows how devoted our president is to his prime goal of getting reelected. He will do anything to reach that goal, maybe even giving up a few rounds of golf.
186
It's the only way he can avoid prison. For now.
44
@William
Busing in paid fans is so much less expensive for the campaign there; cheaper than Kentucky or Louisianna even. Remember, Trump is a Conservative!
23
@William:
He's looking for a country he can escape to.
In case the handcuffs come for him.
3
So what was the point of this tax payer funded visit? Besides stoking Trump (and Modi’s) egos?
180
@ZB Were you complaining when the last administration was "traveling" on the tax payer dime...?
As usual, Trump is all talk. PERIOD. Nothing ever comes of his promises, i.e. our country is still waiting for his promise of a best ever health care plan. India's Modi can expect the same (just ask the Chinese or the North Koreans). November- put Donald J. Trump in the dustbin where he belongs and shut the lid tight. Prison is another option.
219
@Maria Buncick : How does the author know that the person on the ground is a Muslim being beaten up by Hindus? There is no way to identify anyone's religion. The policeman who died was Ratan Lal, a Hindu.
Let us not do Hindu - Muslims with the rioters. It takes two to tango. Let us not take sides.
6
@David Chhetri
The caption comes from Danish Saddiqui, a Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer based in India. He knew what was going on.
5
@Maria Buncick My sentiments exactly.
1