MAGA meets MIGA: In meet with Trump, Modi bats for ‘MEGA’ India-US partnership

The meeting underscored a growing India-US alliance, built on shared economic, security, and strategic interests.

February 14, 2025 01:28 PM IST

2 min read

President Donald Trump and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi shake hands during a news conference in the East Room of the White House, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025, in Washington. (Photo: AP)

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump took the stage for a press conference, amid discussions of defence deals, economic cooperation, and shared democratic values, one moment stood out — Modi’s nod to Trump’s signature “Make America Great Again” mantra. With a smile, Modi introduced his own slogan — “Make India Great Again.”

Standing alongside Trump, Modi drew parallels between the two nationalistic slogans, emphasizing the shared vision of strengthening their respective nations.

“Just as President Trump has spoken of ‘Make America Great Again,’ I too am committed to ‘Make India Great Again’,” PM Modi said.

“The people of America know President Trump’s motto ‘MAGA – Make America Great Again.’ In India, we are working with determination toward a Viksit Bharat, which in American terms, is MIGA – Make India Great Again. Together, MAGA and MIGA create a MEGA partnership for prosperity,” Modi added.

He also expressed his admiration for Trump’s efforts to boost American manufacturing and job creation, drawing comparisons to his own initiatives in India such as “Make in India” and “Atmanirbhar Bharat” (self-reliant India). Modi underscored the importance of economic cooperation between India and the US, noting how both nations can benefit from their respective drives to enhance domestic production capacities.

Through this reference, Modi not only praised Trump’s leadership but also emphasized the growing India-US partnership. He expressed optimism about the potential for expanded economic collaboration, especially in trade, technology, and energy sectors, which would contribute to both countries’ aspirations of becoming stronger global players.

From the homepage