The world was watching as Prime Minister Narendra Modi, standing on Texan soil, shared the stage with US President Donald Trump at 'Howdy Modi!' which attracted over 50,000 Indian-Americans at NRG Stadium, one of the largest football stadiums in Houston. This is for the first time the US President became the part of the event which is billed as one of the largest ever receptions of a foreign leader in the US.
After an hour and half of colourful cultural presentation by various cultural wings of Houston's
Indian community, "Modi! Modi!,Modi!" chants echoed off the stadium's fibreglass dome. Modi and Trump clasped hands as they took the stage to a mix of drumbeats and cheers. Trump sat in the front row as the Indian Prime Minister took over the dais to address the cheering crowds. Trump, well known for his short attention span and impatience, actually sat through Modi's speech without flinching a muscle, listening intently into the earpiece that translated Modi's speech in Hindi into English.
Modi introduced Trump as "my friend, a friend of India" and as someone who "has left a deep and lasting impact everywhere.” He figuratively endorsed Trump for a second term saying ‘Abki Baar Trump Sarkar'. The President of the United States reciprocated heaping praises on PM Modi and pointed out that he was "thrilled to be here in Texas with one of America's greatest, most devoted and most loyal friends, Prime Minister Modi". Trump also made a direct appeal to Indian Americans, citing what he called their groundbreaking achievements in medicine and business. "You enrich our culture, you uphold our values… and we are proud to have you as Americans," he said.
President Trump also made a brief appearance at the United Nations climate summit in New York, despite expectations that he would fully snub the landmark event. He stayed for PM Modi and German chancellor Angela Merkel's speeches. Trump was also seen clapping during PM Modi's speech where he highlighted India's "practical approach and roadmap" to mitigate climate change and outlined the efforts the country has made on the global platform. PM Modi emphasised on the fact that "need" and not "greed" should be the guiding principles if we have to overcome the serious challenge of climate change.
The Houston event was the third time Trump and Modi have met in as many months, after they were seen clasping hands at the G-20 in Japan in June and at the G-7 in France in August. The two men famously embraced in a bear hug when they met for the first time in June 2017 at the White House, sparking chemistry that would extend beyond relations between the US and India. “Howdy, Modi” is famously seen as a diplomatic win for Modi. But the spectacle was also designed to put the President, who is ramping up his own re-election campaign, before an expected audience of 50,000 Indian-Americans, the second largest immigrant group in the US after Mexicans.
PM Modi's week-long visit in the United States from September 21 to 27 will be his sixth visit to the US. Modi was accorded with warm welcome by Christopher Olson, the Director of Trade and International Affairs in Trump administration, and other US officials. US Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster and Indian Ambassador to the US Harsh Vardhan Shringla were also present to greet the Indian prime minister.
