Modi joins Truth Social in overture to Trump
The Indian prime minister has become one of the few world leaders to join the site, and in his first post, he shared a photo with Mr Trump taken in Houston, Texas, during his 2019 US visit.
'Delighted to be on Truth Social! Looking forward to interacting with all the passionate voices here and engaging in meaningful conversations in the times to come,' Mr Modi captioned the photo, in which he is seen wearing a yellow kurta and white shalwar, paired with a Nehru-style waistcoat. Beside him, Trump in a blue suit, joins him in waving to the audience.
Mr Trump launched Truth Social in February 2022 after being temporarily banned from major social media networks, including Twitter and Facebook, following the January 6 attack on the US Capitol.
Tulsi Gabbard, the US director of national intelligence, who is currently in India on a multi-nation tour of the Indo-Pacific region, met Mr Modi to discuss strengthening the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership.
Her visit comes at a crucial moment for India, which remains wary of potential US reciprocal tariff measures under the Trump administration. New Delhi is working to secure a trade agreement that could help avert a tariff war and mitigate the impact of reciprocal duties set to take effect from April 2.
Ms Gabbard, a practising Hindu, underscored her cultural and spiritual connection to India by referencing the Hindu holy book, the Bhagavad Gita.
'Trump's life was for his nation'
Last week, Mr Modi gave a rare foreign interview to Lex Fridman, one of the most popular podcast hosts in the United States, expressing admiration for Mr Trump's 'America First' spirit and drawing parallels with his own 'India First' vision.
'Even after being shot [in July 2024], he [Trump] remained unwaveringly dedicated to America,' he said. 'His life was for his nation. Trump's will to live and fight for the US even after being shot appeals to me because this showed his America First spirit, just as I believe in Nation First.
'I stand for India First and that's why I connect so well [with Trump],' Mr Modi said, adding that the US president is 'far more prepared' for his second term with a 'clear roadmap' and 'well-defined steps'.
The interview has generated significant interest in India, where Mr Modi is known for tightly controlling media interactions and has only recently started taking press questions abroad, despite having been in power for over a decade.
On Monday, Mr Trump shared the interview on his social media platform, where Mr Modi discussed his political journey, the 2002 Gujarat riots and India's relationship with China.
Truth Social is owned by Trump Media & Technology Group and functions similarly to X, allowing users to post 'truths' and 'retruths'.
However, the site has struggled to gain traction, with traffic lagging 400 times behind X. Mr Trump, who took the company public in 2024, owns 57 per cent of shares, although the firm reported a $400 million (£308 million) loss last year on $3.6 million in revenue.
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