Donald Trump cares deeply about the U.S.-India relationship, U.S. Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said on Tuesday (March 31, 2026) after meeting the U.S. President at the White House.

“Back in the U.S. for a few days. First stop, meeting with our GREAT President in the White House. The President deeply cares about the relationship between the U.S. and India,” Mr. Gor said in a post on X on Tuesday evening.

He also posted a photograph of himself with Mr. Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in the Oval Office.

Mr. Gor assumed the office of the U.S. Ambassador to India in January this year. Earlier, he served as the Director of the White House Presidential Personnel Office.

He also serves as the U.S. Special Envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs.

Amid current tensions between Washington and Delhi over tariffs and purchase of Russian oil, U.S. President Donald Trump said India and the United States have a “special relationship” and there’s nothing to worry about as the two countries “just have moments on occasion”.

“I’ll always be friends with (Narendra) Modi… He’s a great Prime Minister. He’s great. But I just don’t like what he’s doing at this particular moment. But India and the United States have a special relationship. There’s nothing to worry about. We just have moments on occasion,” Mr. Trump said in the Oval Office on Friday (September 5, 2025).

The president was responding to a question on whether he is ready to reset relations with India, as ties between the two countries continue to reel under possibly the worst phase in over two decades.

Mr. Trump also said he is “very disappointed” that India would be buying “so much oil” from Russia.

“I’ve been very disappointed that India would be buying so much oil from Russia, and I let them know that. We put a very big tariff on India, 50% tariff, a very high tariff. I get along very well with (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi, he’s great. He was here a couple of months ago,” Mr. Trump said in response to a question on his social media post that the U.S. has lost India and Russia to China.

In the Truth Social post, Mr. Trump said that “Looks like we’ve lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest, China. May they have a long and prosperous future together!”

Mr. Trump had also posted an old photo of Modi with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

Mr. Trump’s post on social media came days after the bonhomie among Modi, Xi and Putin at a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in the Chinese city of Tianjin drew global attention.

To a question on how trade talks are going with India and other countries, Mr. Trump said, “They are going great. Other countries are doing great. We’re doing great with all of them. We’re upset with the European Union because of what’s happening with not just Google, but with all of our big companies.”

Meanwhile, Trump administration’s Senior Counselor for Trade and Manufacturing, Peter Navarro, said in a post on X that India’s highest tariffs cost U.S. jobs.

“India buys Russian oil purely to profit/revenues feed Russia war machine. Ukrainians/Russians die. U.S. taxpayers shell out more. India can’t handle truth/spins,” Mr. Navarro said.

National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett said that Mr. Trump and his trade team are disappointed that India continues to “fund” Russia’s Ukraine war.

“I think the trade team and the president are disappointed that India continues to fund Russia’s Ukraine war, and hopefully it’s a diplomatic issue that will have positive development soon,” Mr. Hassett told reporters at the White House on Friday.

U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed his desire to speak with Prime Minister Narendra Modi before giving the final nod to the long-anticipated India-U.S. trade agreement, sources familiar with the development told 5WH.

Negotiations for the deal have concluded, with the final draft awaiting Mr. Trump’s approval for more than a week. The pact has received endorsements from key officials on both sides — U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, as well as India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal.

“President Trump has not finalised a single trade deal with a major economy without first speaking directly with the head of state. India is expected to follow the same pattern,” said a source aware of the diplomatic developments related to the trade deals.

Mr. Trump’s intent to speak with “his friend” Mr. Modi has already been conveyed to New Delhi, sources added. Mr. Modi is currently engaged in the Monsoon session of Parliament, and the two governments are coordinating the logistics of a potential call.

’India’s a good friend’: Trump

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One while returning from Europe, President Trump confirmed that the India deal remains pending.

“No, it’s not [finalised],” Mr. Trump said in response to a reporter’s question.

Pressed further about tariff expectations, Mr. Trump responded, “We’re going to see. But India’s been a good friend. Over the years, they’ve charged higher tariffs than almost any other country. But now I’m in charge, and you just can’t do that.”

Mr. Trump signaled he was aware of reports suggesting India may face elevated tariffs — in the range of 20 to 25% — under the new framework. “Yeah, I think so,” he said.

He reiterated his rapport with Mr. Modi and highlighted his role in de-escalating tensions between India and Pakistan in the aftermath of a recent conflict.

“Look, India’s been—they’re my friends, and he’s my friend. They ended the war with Pakistan at my request, and it was great. And Pakistan did also,” Mr. Trump noted.

The final announcement of the trade deal is expected to follow the scheduled conversation between the two leaders.

According to U.S. Trade Representatives, for the calendar year 2024, U.S. goods trade with India amounted to about $129.2 billion, comprising $41.8 billion in U.S. exports and $87.4 billion in imports, resulting in a U.S. goods trade deficit of approximately $45.7 billion with India.

This article is published in an arragement with 5WH.