After a viral video purportedly showed US President Donald Trump commenting on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's political career, the Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday said it would take "appropriate action".
Truth about Trump's viral video
The video was reportedly taken in October 2025 when India-US trade ties were strained over New Delhi's purchase of Russian oil. However, currently it shows only a portion where Trump is seen saying, "I don't want to destroy Modi's political career".
Modi is a great man that he loves Trump, I don't know of the word love. I don't want you to take that as different. I don't want to destroy his political career.
— Gulshan Azad (@gulshan18761371) February 8, 2026
Trump is ecstatic. He'll definitely give Modi ji a tight hug when they meet. pic.twitter.com/PItCLD8hgu
However, the original video shows that he was making a lighter remark. He says, "Modi is a great man. He loves Trump. I don't know if the word 'love', I don't want you to take that any different... I don't want to destroy his political career."
However, the edited video resurfacing on X showed only the last part. When MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal was asked about the video during his weekly briefing on Thursday, he said, "I have not seen the video... However, if such a video exists, whether it is true or false, we will take appropriate action on it."
This comes as India and the US on February 7 announced that the two sides have reached a framework for an interim trade agreement.
The US said it will reduce tariffs on Indian goods to 18 per cent from 50 per cent. On the other hand, India confirmed that it will remove or reduce import duties on all US industrial goods and a wide range of American food and agricultural products.
