White House Diwali Celebration: Trump Extols Modi, Strengthens US-India Bonds

The White House resonated with the spirit of Diwali as President Donald Trump celebrated the festival, sending warm wishes to India and its diaspora. He praised Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling him a ‘great person’ and a ‘great friend,’ and highlighted the strengthening economic and security partnership between the two nations. President Trump recounted a recent phone call with PM Modi, mentioning their productive discussions on trade and their success in de-escalating tensions with Pakistan. ‘Although we did talk a little while ago about let’s have no wars with Pakistan. The fact that trade was involved, I was able to talk about that. And we have no war with Pakistan and India. That was a very, very good thing,’ Trump stated, adding, ‘he (PM Modi) is a great person, and he has become a great friend of mine over the years.’ The President eloquently described the lighting of the diya as a profound symbol of Diwali, signifying the triumph of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and righteousness over evil. He noted the festival’s ancient stories of overcoming adversity and achieving liberation. President Trump then proceeded to light the ceremonial diyas within the White House. The distinguished gathering included high-ranking officials like ODNI Director Tulsi Gabbard and US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor, along with prominent figures from the Indian-American business community, reflecting the growing influence and participation of the diaspora in US-India relations. Meanwhile, US Congressmen Raja Krishnamoorthi and Brian Fitzpatrick championed Diwali’s significance by introducing a bipartisan House resolution. This resolution acknowledges the religious and historical importance of Diwali and celebrates the contributions of the Indian-American population. Krishnamoorthi expressed hope that the resolution would foster unity, while Fitzpatrick emphasized Diwali’s message of light prevailing over darkness. The resolution also details the festival’s meaning for Sikhs and Jains. The White House Diwali event served as a powerful testament to the shared values and deepening friendship between the United States and India.