Trump to join Modi in Houston to address 50K Indian-Americans: White House

Washington: President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will jointly address over 50,000 Indian-Americans at the mega “Howdy, Modi!” event in Houston on Sunday, which officials say is an “unprecedented” occasion, reflective of the strong bonds of friendship and cooperation between India and the US.

Emphasising the new bonhomie in the India-US ties under the Trump administration, this is for the first time in recent history that the leaders of the two largest democracies would be addressing a joint rally anywhere in the world.

More than 50,000 Indian-Americans from across the US have registered for the September 22 mega “Howdy, Modi! Shared Dreams, Bright Futures” event to be held at the sprawling NRG Stadium in Houston.

In a statement, White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham said, “It (Modi-Trump joint rally) will be a great opportunity to emphasise the strong ties between the people of the US and India, to reaffirm the strategic partnership between the world’s oldest and largest democracies, and to discuss ways to deepen their energy and trade relationship.”

This would also be the first time that an American president would be addressing thousands of Indian-Americans at one place in the US.

India’s Ambassador to the US, Harsh Vardhan Shringla called Trump’s participation in the “Howdy, Modi!” event “historic” and “unprecedented”.

The ambassador said the two leaders addressing the event sets a bold precedent, which is unconventional and unique.

“It would be quite a historic meeting with Prime Minister Modi and President Trump jointly addressing over 50,000 Indian-Americans, mainly US citizens,” Shringla said.

White House officials told PTI that a request for the joint address was made by Prime Minister Modi to President Trump when the two met in France last month on the sidelines of the G7 summit.