India can always count on me: Donald Trump

NEW DELHI: India and the US had never been closer, US President Donald Trump told Sergio Gor in the middle of the US Independence Day celebrations, 'Freedom 250', attended by secretary of state Marco Rubio and external affairs minister S Jaishankar, and told the ambassador to tell PM Narendra Modi he was "a big fan".

Gor's direct access to the US president, as an inner circle loyalist, was evident as he managed to get Trump on a call in the middle of the event that saw AR Rahman performing his chartbusters.

"India can count on me 100%. If they ever need help, they know where to call. They call right here. We're doing well. We're setting records. We have a record economy, a record stock market and anything India wants to get. I am a big fan of Prime Minister Modi," said Trump in his call with Gor.

When Gor asked Trump if he had any message for Rubio, Trump said, "He is the greatest. He's going down as the greatest secretary of state in the history of the US... Say hello to PM Modi and let him know I'm a big fan."

Rubio said later that while the US had many great ambassadors, he wasn't aware of anyone who was a better event planner.

Gor said the interim trade deal between the nations would be signed in a few weeks. "Since I arrived in New Delhi just five months ago, we have announced an interim trade deal that, hopefully, in the next few weeks, will get signed. India has been invited, accepted and joined Pax Silica, and commercial diplomacy is at a record high," he said.