US President Donald Trump offered effusive praise for Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a gathering of world leaders at the G7 Summit, describing him as “calm, cool, and a total killer.” The comments came just before their first bilateral meeting in over a year, held on the sidelines of the summit.
Speaking to other leaders at a G7 lunch, Trump drew a contrast between his own style and Modi’s. “Unlike PM Modi, who’s calm, cool, and a total killer, I am not. Just look at him,” Trump stated, highlighting what he perceives as Modi’s composed yet formidable demeanor.
These remarks are significant, especially as they followed an interaction between the two leaders the previous day that appeared unusually formal. Instead of their customary embrace, Modi and Trump greeted each other with a handshake, fueling speculation among observers about potential tensions in the India-US relationship. Trump’s subsequent praise, however, suggested that their personal rapport remains strong, potentially easing any recent friction.
This is not the first instance of Trump using the phrase “total killer” to describe the Indian Prime Minister. He has previously employed the term to underscore Modi’s strong negotiating abilities and political resolve. Trump first publicly used this description during his 2024 US presidential campaign, reiterating it in a podcast interview where he called Modi “a friend of mine and also the nicest human being... On the outside, he looks like he’s your father. He is the nicest and a total killer.”