US President Donald Trump had a “productive” conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier this week, the White House said on Friday.
According to the New York Times, billionaire businessman Elon Musk also joined the call on Tuesday, where leaders discussed the situation in West Asia.
“President Trump has a great relationship with Prime Minister Modi, and this has been a productive conversation,” White House Press Secretary Carolyn Leavitt said in a statement to PTI.
In a post on X, Prime Minister Modi shared the diplomatic exchange, noting that both sides called for an “open, safe and accessible” Strait of Hormuz and reiterated India’s stance on de-escalation and peace amid the US-Iran war.
The Prime Minister said in his post: “I received a phone call from President Trump and we had a useful exchange of views on the situation in West Asia. India supports de-escalation and restoration of peace at the earliest. Ensuring that the Strait of Hormuz remains open, safe and accessible is essential for the entire world. We have agreed to remain in touch regarding efforts to achieve peace and stability.”
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Why did Elon Musk join the Trump-Modi call?
Elon Musk joined a phone call on Tuesday between Prime Minister Modi and US President Donald Trump, the New York Times reported, citing unnamed US officials, in a rare case of a private citizen being part of a conversation between two heads of state during a wartime crisis.
The report, which quoted US officials confirming Musk’s presence, indicated that the richest man in the world may return to better relations with Trump after the repercussions last year following his exit from the administration, as he was tasked with reducing the federal workforce.
It remains unclear why Musk was included in the call or whether he spoke during the conversation.
The call marks the first interaction between the two leaders since the conflict in West Asia began on February 28. During the discussion, Prime Minister Modi stressed the need to keep the Strait of Hormuz open, safe and accessible, describing it as crucial to global peace, stability and economic well-being.
