The bullhorn is back. Donald Trump, the man who never stopped tweeting, just confirmed he will visit India. The announcement comes amid a frostiness that could have frozen Pennsylvania Avenue. Sources close to the former president's inner circle confirm the trip is on, following weeks of backchannel talks between advisors and Delhi's power brokers. But is this a real detente or just political theatre? I've seen enough smoke-and-mirror shows to know the difference.
The relationship between Trump and Narendra Modi has always been a strange cocktail. Modi, the strongman of India, once embraced Trump at the 'Howdy Modi' rally in Houston a stadium packed with 50,000 Indian-Americans. Trump loved the adulation. But then came the trade wars. Tariffs on Indian steel and aluminium. Retaliation from Delhi. The bonhomie turned into a staredown. Modi, no stranger to realpolitik, knows how to play the long game. Trump, always transactional, wants a win. So what changed?
Uncovered documents from trade negotiations show India quietly lifted restrictions on American poultry and medical devices. A small concession, but a signal. Behind the scenes, Trump's team has been pressing for India to reduce its reliance on Russian oil and step up on defence purchases. In return, Delhi wants easier visas for Indian tech workers and a rollback of those tariffs. Sources confirm that both sides are jockeying for leverage ahead of the visit.
But here's the gritty part. This isn't just about trade. It's about geopolitics. Trump has been attacking Biden on China, painting himself as the only one who can stand up to Beijing. India, locked in its own border tensions with China, is a natural alley. Yet, Modi has hedged his bets. He has joined the Quad with the US, Japan and Australia, but he also signed oil deals with Russia after the Ukraine invasion. Trump despises ambiguity. He wants loyalty. Will Modi give it? I doubt it. India's foreign policy is a Rubik's cube with missing pieces.
Money trails are always my compass. Follow the money, and you find the truth. In this case, look at the defence contracts. India is modernising its military, and American firms like Lockheed Martin and Boeing are hungry for deals. Trump, a man who loves a deal, will likely push for F-16s and attack drones. But Delhi also courts Israel and France. They won't put all their eggs in one basket. And Modi, a master of political survival, knows that embracing Trump too tightly could alienate other partners.
The timing reeks of calculation. Trump is facing a string of legal battles. A foreign trip, especially one with a stadium rally in Ahmedabad again, would be a powerful distraction. Modi, too, faces domestic pressure over unemployment and religious tensions. A Trump visit could rally the nationalist base. It's a win-win for both, at least on the surface.
But beneath the handshakes and photo-ops, the real story is about unaccountable power. Two strongmen, both accused of eroding democratic norms, come together. Critics will damn them as threats to pluralism. Supporters will cheer as strong leaders. I just see two men who need each other more than they'll admit. The thaw might be real, but frost returns fast. I'll be watching the money. I'll be watching the bodies. And I'll be reporting from the trenches.
