US President Donald Trump received a rousing reception at the ‘Namaste Trump’ event in India on February 24, 2020. This marked a continuum to the warm reception that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had received at the ‘Howdy Modi’ event in September 2019 in Houston, Texas. In spite of coming from very different backgrounds, over the past few years, President Trump and Prime Minister Modi seem to have developed a certain camaraderie and mutual respect which was in full display during the visit. Behind the bonhomie that marked the occasion, the Trump visit also showcased the people-centric nature of India-US ties: two democratic societies engaging with each other and standing together.
