On Wednesday, October 22, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi confirmed he received a phone call from U.S. President Donald Trump, who extended warm Deepavali wishes. Notably, Prime Minister Modi’s public statement did not include any discussion regarding contentious issues such as the purchase of Russian oil, existing tariffs, or broader trade disputes between the two nations.
Taking to social media, Prime Minister Modi shared his appreciation, stating, “Thank you, President Trump, for your phone call and warm Diwali greetings. On this festival of lights, may our two great democracies continue to illuminate the world with hope and stand united against terrorism in all its forms.”
This high-level phone conversation takes place amidst a period of notable tension in the U.S.-India relationship, particularly concerning trade tariffs and other bilateral disagreements.
Just one day prior, on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, President Trump had publicly commented on a previous discussion with Prime Minister Modi. During that interaction, Trump asserted that he had been assured India would curtail its purchases of Russian crude oil. He remarked, “We talked about a lot of things, but mostly the world of trade. He’s not going to buy much oil from Russia. He wants to see that war end as much as I do.” These remarks from President Trump highlight a divergence in public statements concerning the specifics of their discussions.