Donald Trump shares PM Modi's podcast with Lex Fridman ahead of April 2 reciprocal tariffs

US President Donald Trump on Monday shared Prime Minister Narendra Modi's podcast with Lex Fridman on his Truth account. The Indian Prime Minister had lavished praise on Trump as a man of courage, underscoring strong personal bonds now being tested by the US president’s tariff plans, which also include the South Asian nation.

PM Modi had said that he got along well with Trump because both prioritized their nations first, according to comments made on the Lex Fridman Podcast. The remarks came as India becomes a prime target for reciprocal US tariffs from April 2.

“His reflection showed his America First spirit, just as I believe in nation first,” Modi said. “I stand for India first and that’s why we connect so well.”


India has lowered some of its levies on American goods and officials in New Delhi have been discussing reducing duties for a range of other products including automobiles, some agricultural products and chemicals, Bloomberg has reported.

The Indian prime minister was among the first foreign leaders to visit Trump after his return to the White House earlier this year. Despite recent tensions, Trump and Modi have developed a close relationship, with multiple meetings during the US president’s first term. The US over multiple administrations has cultivated India as a regional partner and a bulwark against a more assertive China.

During Modi’s latest US visit, the two sides agreed to negotiate the first tranche of a multi-sector trade deal by the fall of this year. Trade between the two countries grew to $127 billion in 2023, making the US India’s largest trading partner and putting pressure on New Delhi to strike a deal.

During the podcast, PM Modi criticized international organizations and said that they are slowly becoming irrelevant. “Institutions, like the UN, are failing to fulfill their roles,” he said, echoing a stance that Trump and billionaire Elon Musk have also taken lately.