Trump hints at announcement during ‘Howdy Modi’

Washington, Sep 19 (IANS) US President Donald Trump has hinted of an announcement when he shares a stage with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the much-anticipated ‘Howdy Modi’ event on Sunday night in Houston, Texas.

When asked by a reporter on Wednesday about a possible announcement at the event, Trump replied “could be”, adding that he shares a “very good relationship” with Modi. This will be the first time that the two leaders will share a platform together. It is a rare honour for a US President to appear at an ethnic meeting with a foreign leader and has not happened on the scale of the Houston rally in recent memory.

Trumps’s remark comes a day after the Washington Examiner, quoting US officials and industry “insiders”, on Tuesday said in a report that the two countries were “nearing a trade breakthrough” ahead of Modi’s visit to the US. Over 50,000 people have registered for the event hosted by the Texas India Forum at the NRG Stadium in Houston.

The organizers have put together a 90-minute cultural extravaganza – “Woven: The Indian-American Story”. Huge billboards have sprung up across Houston and other places to welcome Modi on his US tour. Over 60 US lawmakers are expected to attend the event.

–IANS
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