US President Donald Trump said he threatened India and Pakistan with 250% tariffs to help spur the resolution of their conflict earlier this year, describing Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as "the nicest-looking guy” who is also a "killer” eager to fight.
Trump made the comments Wednesday while addressing a meeting of corporate leaders at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Gyeongju.
Trump has repeatedly claimed credit for solving the four-day armed conflict, angering officials in India who have rejected his claims of mediation. Modi skipped a regional leaders summit in Malaysia this week as Indian officials were apprehensive that Trump would repeat his claim that he mediated the ceasefire, people familiar with the matter said.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Back in May, Vice President JD Vance spoke with Modi in a bid to find an off ramp to the fighting, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio also speaking to his counterpart. Top generals from both India and Pakistan then spoke for hours to work out a ceasefire and agreed to halt the fighting. Trump then revealed the ceasefire in a Truth Social post before it was announced by either country, infuriating officials in New Delhi.
Trump has repeatedly referenced his role in the conflict during his three-nation tour of Asia, adding additional flourishes with each retelling.
"I called Prime Minister Modi, I said, ‘We can’t make a trade deal with you,’” Trump said. "‘You’re starting a war with Pakistan. We’re not going to do it.’”
Trump said he made a similar phone call to Pakistan, and that both sides told him that "you should let us fight.”
Ultimately, the president said, he threatened "250% tariffs on each country, which means that you’ll never do business.”
The US president went on to describe India and Pakistan as "tough people.”
"I’ll tell you what, Prime Minister Modi is the nicest looking guy,” Trump said, adding that the Indian leader looked like someone "you’d like to have as your father.”
But, Trump said, "he’s a killer.”
"He’s tough as hell,” Trump said, quoting the Indian prime minister as telling him: "No, we will fight!”
"I said, ‘Whoa, is that the same man that I know?’” Trump said.
While Trump went on to describe the leaders of India and Pakistan as "good people” - and is regularly prone to exaggeration - the aside came as Modi is campaigning for his party in a crucial state election that kicks off next week and risks giving the prime minister’s rivals political ammunition.
The flap has soured what has previously been a close bond between Modi and Trump. India has also been unable to convince Trump to reduce a 50% tariff on Indian exports, which includes a penalty over its purchases of Russian oil.
While Trump has said India has committed to reducing those buys, the US has not yet announced a tariff rollback. - Bloomberg
