'Calm, cool and a total killer': Trump's praise for PM Modi draws attention ahead of key meeting

Praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi while meeting on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in France, US President Donald Trump described the PM as "calm", "cool" and a "total killer".

"Unlike PM Modi, who's calm, cool and a total killer, I am not. Just look at him," Trump said.

This comes as the two leaders met for a bilateral meeting that could see discussions on trade, security and people-to-people ties.

Last week, Trump congratulated PM Modi after he became the longest-serving election prime minister of India, calling him a "strong, healthy and wise man."

"Congratulations to my friend, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on becoming India's longest-serving Prime Minister -- And a Great One he is!" Trump wrote. "He is a strong, healthy, and wise man, and will have many years of Greatness and Success ahead of him!"

In response, Modi wrote, "Thank you, President Trump, for your warm wishes. I look forward to working with you to further advance the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, for the benefit of both our nations and the world."

In May, while speaking virtually at an event hosted at the US Embassy in Delhi to mark the 250th US Independence Day celebrations, Trump told US Ambassador Sergio Gor, "I love India. You (Gor) have to make a good speech as a representative of our country. I just want to say hello to everybody. I love the prime minister. PM Modi is great; he is my friend."

Expressing his admiration for Modi, Trump said that India could count on the US "100 per cent". "Anything India wants, they get. I am a big, big fan of Prime Minister Modi," he added.

In January, during the World Economic Forum in Davos, the US president said, I have a great respect for your prime minister (Modi). He is a fantastic man and a friend of mine. We are gonna have a good deal." He was referring to the ongoing negotiations regarding a potential trade deal between the two sides.