US envoy Sergio Gor has claimed that President Donald Trump agreed to an Indian request to avoid press questions during his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the G7 summit, but then opened the floor to reporters immediately after the leaders finished their opening remarks.
Gor made the remarks at the Economic Times World Leaders Forum, describing what he said happened behind the scenes before and during the Trump-Modi meeting.
India asked for no press questions
Gor said he was with Trump before the US President met PM Modi and discussed what India was expected to raise during the meeting.
“We were behind the scenes, behind the stage, and at one point it was just the president and I, and he asked me, he goes, what are the Indians going to raise?” Gor said.
The two discussed possible topics, after which Trump asked whether the Indian side had any specific requests.
“And he said, do they have any asks? And the MEA had one ask,” Gor said.
According to the envoy, India’s Ministry of External Affairs wanted the media to be present but did not want a full press conference.
“He said, and it was, let’s bring in the media, but let’s not do a full press conference,” Gor quoted Trump as saying.
Trump initially agreed
Gor said he conveyed India’s preference directly to Trump.
“I told the president, I said, the Indians prefer no questions. He said, sure, no problem,” Gor said.
The meeting then began with members of the media present.
“So the meeting starts, the press comes in, there must have been 50 cameras, the president is sitting here, the prime minister is sitting there, they both speak for a few minutes,” Gor recalled.
Trump opens floor to reporters
According to Gor, Trump then unexpectedly invited questions from journalists.
“As soon as they get done, the first thing the president does, he looks up at the camera and says, any questions?” Gor said.
He added that Trump’s remark effectively changed the format of the meeting.
“And that opened everything up,” Gor said.
The envoy claimed the interaction subsequently turned into a 45-minute press conference, with reporters raising a wide range of issues.
Gor said the session continued for about 45 minutes after Trump invited questions.
The US envoy described the outcome by saying: “A 45-minute press conference” followed and “everything was on the table.”
His account suggests that the media interaction went significantly beyond the limited press access that India had reportedly requested ahead of the meeting.
