Jaishankar Slams Rahul Gandhi for False Claims on Trump Inauguration Invite
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has strongly refuted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s claims that his recent visit to the United States was aimed at securing an invitation for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend U.S. President Donald Trump’s inauguration. The remarks from Jaishankar came shortly after Gandhi’s speech in the Lok Sabha, where he alleged that the Foreign Minister’s trip was to facilitate Modi’s participation in the event.
In a post on social media platform X, Jaishankar described Gandhi’s statement as a “deliberate falsehood,” clarifying that his December 2024 visit had been focused on meeting U.S. Secretary of State and National Security Advisor officials, as well as chairing a gathering of India’s Consuls General. Jaishankar further noted that during his trip, he also met with the incoming National Security Advisor-designate of the Biden Administration.
The External Affairs Minister emphasized that at no point during his visit was the topic of an invitation for PM Modi discussed, pointing out that it is well-known that the Prime Minister does not attend such events. He added that India is typically represented at such occasions by Special Envoys.