Namaste Trump

Namaste Trump (stylized as नमस्ते TRUMP) was a tour event held on 24 and 25 February 2020 in India.[1] It was the inaugural visit of the US President Donald Trump and his family to India. A rally event of the same name was held in Ahmedabad, Gujarat and was the highlight of the tour, as a response to the "Howdy Modi" event held in Houston, Texas in September 2019.[2] The Motera Stadium (officially known as the Sardar Patel Stadium) hosted President Trump and family along with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. An attendance of over 100,000 people was reported,[3] with some speculating an attendance as high as 125,000.[4] The tour was originally named Kem Chho Trump but was renamed by the Government of India to promote Indian nationalism over regionalism.[5]

Namaste Trump
US President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Namaste Trump rally
DateFebruary 24, 2020
Time1:30 pm (IST)
Duration2 days
LocationSardar Patel Stadium, Ahmedabad, India
ThemeTraditional
Organized byGovernment of India
Participants100,000–125,000

The main event at the stadium was organised in the afternoon and was the highlight of the President's visit to India. The event served as a platform for the US President and Indian Prime Minister to show off their friendly relationship with each other.[6]

Ahead of Trump's visit to Ahmedabad, the Gujarat state government had built a new wall.[7] The construction of this wall was protested by social workers claiming that it was created for hiding slums however officials denied this claim and said that it was built due to security reasons.[8][9]

Trump also visited the Taj Mahal in Agra, Uttar Pradesh on the same day.[10] In Agra, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath welcomed the President and the First Lady on their arrival at Agra Airport. An exposition event with 3000 cultural artists showcasing the art and culture of various regions in India also took place.[11] The Trump family then visited the Taj Mahal informally, with no official personnel except the tour guide and protective personnel such as the Secret Service and the National Security Guard.[12]

After visiting the Taj Mahal, the President and his family headed towards New Delhi, to stay at the ITC Maurya, which was heavily surrounded with security personnel from both countries. They also attended the dinner banquet hosted by the President of India Ram Nath Kovind. The next day, the First Lady visited Sarvodaya Vidyalaya Senior Secondary Co-Educational school in Nanakpura, South Delhi. President Trump and Prime Minister Modi addressed common issues such as 5G connectivity, trade deals, and signed a US$3 billion defense deal.[13]

The visit coincided with 2020 Delhi riots,[14][15] with some Indian politicians and political commentators accusing the rioters of tarnishing the country's image, and some criticizing the organization of the event.[16]

See also

References
  1. "Ahmedabad's Motera Stadium to host US President Donald Trump". cnbctv18.com. Retrieved 2020-02-24.
  2. "It will be Namaste Trump in India after Howdy Modi in US". Bloomberg. February 17, 2020.
  3. "'Namaste Trump': Modi Holds Huge Rally for President's Visit". Associated Press. February 24, 2020 – via The New York Times.
  4. Hannah Ellis-Petersen (February 24, 2020). "'Namaste Trump': India welcomes US president at Modi rally". The Guardian.
  5. "'Kem Chho' Out, 'Namaste' In: Trump's Gujarat Event Renamed, Centre Picks National Theme Over Regional". News18. 16 February 2020. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  6. Ellis-Petersen, Hannah (February 24, 2020). "'Namaste Trump': India welcomes US president at Modi rally". The Guardian. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
  7. "Watch | Wall built in Ahmedabad ahead of Trump's visit". The Hindu. 2020-02-20. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2020-06-07.
  8. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/feb/18/trump-india-visit-wall-criticism-hiding-poor-people
  9. Langa, Mahesh (2020-02-18). "Donald Trump visit to Ahmedabad | Kerala social worker Aswathy Jwala launches hunger strike against wall 'to hide slums'". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2020-06-07.
  10. "Trumps visit India's 'monument of love'". February 24, 2020 – via www.bbc.com.
  11. "Trump will remember warm welcome from Uttar Pradesh for long: BJP". The New Indian Express.
  12. "Unprecedented security measures in place in Delhi for Trump's visit". telegraphindia.com. |first= missing |last= (help)
  13. Pundir, Deepika. "Donald Trump India Visit Highlights". NDTV.
  14. "Death toll rises to 24 from Delhi riots during Trump trip". Associated Press. 26 February 2020.
  15. "As India Counts Dead, Brutality of Hindu-Muslim Riot Emerges". U.S. News. 29 February 2020.
  16. "BJP sees 'conspiracy' in Delhi riots erupting during Trump trip, wants timing investigated". February 25, 2020.
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