'Modi Doesn't Sleep, He's Like Me': US Envoy Sergio Gor Recalls Early Morning Call Anecdote

US ambassador to India Sergio Gor has said President Donald Trump’s personal rapport with Prime Minister Narendra Modi remains a major factor in the direction of India-US ties, recounting an unscheduled call request that, he argued, showed the ease between the two leaders.

Speaking at the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum Leadership Summit, Gor said Trump views Modi as “a friend” and remains strongly invested in the relationship with India. His remarks came at a time when both governments are looking to push forward cooperation in trade, defence, technology and strategic issues.

Trump-Modi friendship cited as a diplomatic asset

Gor recalled an incident from a UFC event in Miami a few months earlier, where he said Trump unexpectedly suggested calling Modi while they were backstage. According to Gor, he reminded the president that it was 6am in India. Trump’s response, he said, was: “He’ll be up. He’s like me.”

The call was eventually placed the next day. Gor said the moment was still significant because it reflected a relationship that did not depend only on formal schedules and official channels. “The louder message of that story is when you're friends with somebody, not everything has to be scheduled. And the president truly considers the Prime Minister a friend,” he said.

Personal equations between leaders do not replace diplomacy, but they can influence the speed and tone of decision-making. In the India-US relationship, the Trump-Modi dynamic has often been highlighted by officials and business groups as a factor that helped create political space for closer engagement.

Gor said Trump continues to speak warmly about India and remembers his previous visit to the country. He said he had spent nearly two hours with Trump in Washington before the weekend, during which India came up positively in conversation.

“He has very fond memories of India. His visit last time, it was one of his most remarkable visits that he continues to talk about. He holds India in a very fond place,” Gor said. He added that he hopes Trump will visit India during his second term.

Why the India-US relationship matters now

India and the United States have built a wider partnership over the past two decades, moving from a largely transactional relationship to one covering defence, semiconductors, clean energy, critical minerals, space, education and the Indo-Pacific. Both sides also see growing value in supply chain resilience and technology cooperation.

Gor said the two governments were focused on measurable outcomes. “We are results driven,” he said, adding that the coming two years would be crucial in shaping the future of the partnership. He urged businesses and policy stakeholders to think beyond short-term gains.

“These next two years will set the relationship on a path for several decades ahead. So for everyone here who participates in this, think of this as a long-term project. This is not a one-year or two-year project, but what we sow now will continue to sustain us decades ahead,” he said.

That message is important for Indian businesses, technology companies and defence manufacturers watching policy signals from Washington. Trade negotiations, visa rules, tariffs, investment screening and technology access remain sensitive areas, even as strategic cooperation has expanded steadily.

The United States is one of India’s largest trading partners, and American companies have become significant investors in India’s digital, manufacturing and services sectors. India, in turn, has become more important to US companies seeking scale, talent and alternatives to concentrated supply chains.

From Howdy Modi to Namaste Trump

The Trump-Modi equation became highly visible during Trump’s first term. The “Howdy Modi” event in Houston in 2019 drew a large Indian-American crowd and became one of the most prominent diaspora events involving an Indian prime minister and a US president.

In 2020, Trump visited India for the “Namaste Trump” event in Ahmedabad. The visit was presented by both sides as a sign of political warmth and public diplomacy. It also gave the relationship a high-profile visual moment, even as difficult negotiations on trade continued behind the scenes.

Officials in both countries have often argued that strong leader-level engagement can help manage disputes. India and the US have not always aligned on trade, market access, energy purchases or global conflicts. However, both sides have continued to widen their strategic dialogue.

Defence ties have been a particularly visible area of progress. India has increased military exercises with the US, signed key enabling agreements over the years and purchased major American defence platforms. Technology and industrial cooperation are now seen as the next major test of the partnership.

Gor’s remarks were therefore aimed not only at describing a personal bond, but also at signalling continuity. For New Delhi, access to advanced technology, stable trade terms and predictable strategic engagement remain central concerns. For Washington, India is a key partner in the Indo-Pacific and a major democratic market.

The ambassador’s comments suggest that the Trump administration wants to frame the relationship around long-term outcomes rather than episodic diplomacy. The personal warmth between Trump and Modi may help set the tone, but the durability of the partnership will depend on how both governments handle trade friction, technology rules and security cooperation.

With inputs from ANI