We connect well as nation comes first for us: PM on Trump

In his much-anticipated podcast with American computer scientist Lex Fridman, released Sunday evening, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke on a wide array of subjects, including how US President Donald Trump appeared far more prepared than before in his second term, and credited him for putting together a strong team.

- ARCHIS MOHAN

Apart from elaborating on his rapport with Trump, the PM covered other international issues, such as his efforts at fostering peace with Pakistan, which were met by betrayal. He noted that normalcy has returned on the India-China border after his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in October. He said the two nations were now working to restore conditions to how they were before 2020. On the Russia-Ukraine war, Modi stressed the need for the two countries to start dialogue.

About the 2002 Godhra communal riots in Gujarat, the PM said a "fake narrative" was woven around it by his political rivals. Modi spoke of how the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), which will mark its centenary this year, gave him a purpose in life, his humble origins, his views on Artificial Intelligence, and his favourite football player, which he said was Argentine great Diego Maradona. The PM shared the link to the over three and a quarter hour podcast on X, describing it as "a wonderful conversation covering a wide range of subjects".