US Envoy Recalls When Trump Wanted To Call ‘Friend’ Modi At 6 AM: ‘He Doesn't Sleep’

Last Updated:June 30, 2026, 11:52 IST

Sergio Gor said the incident took place backstage at a UFC event in Miami a few months ago when Trump suddenly suggested calling the Indian Prime Minister.

Trump-Modi Bonhomie: US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor on Monday (local time) recalled an incident when US President Donald Trump wanted to call Prime Minister Narendra Modi at 6 am IST a few months ago, saying it reflected the close personal friendship between the two leaders.

While speaking at the IX USISPF Leadership Summit 2026, Gor said the incident took place backstage at a UFC event in Miami a few months ago when Trump suddenly suggested calling the Indian Prime Minister.

“A couple of months ago, I was with the President at UFC in Miami. We were sitting backstage, and he said to me, ‘Let’s call the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi).’ I said, ‘It’s 6 am there.’ Trump said, ‘He’ll be up. He’s like me. He doesn’t sleep,'" Gor recounted as quoted by news agency ANI.

Gor went to share that since Trump had to take the stage soon after, the call with PM Modi was scheduled for the next day.

The US envoy narrated the incident to point out to the warmth Trump shares with PM Modi.

“The louder message of that story is when you’re friends with somebody, not everything has to be scheduled. The President truly considers the Prime Minister a friend. When you’re friends with somebody, you pick up the phone and ask, ‘How are you doing?’ Not everything has to be scheduled six weeks in advance," he said.

He added that Trump holds India in high regard and views Prime Minister Modi differently from many other world leaders.

“There are leaders we schedule things with because he does not consider them at the same level that he considers the Prime Minister," Gor said.

The envoy noted that the rapport between the two leaders dates back to Trump’s first term in office and has contributed to strengthening India-US ties.

He further said that negotiations on the proposed India-US trade agreement were in their “final steps", adding that only the last phase of discussions remained.

He also emphasised that PM Modi will visit the United States for the G20 Summit in December, while Trump’s visit to India is expected to take place next year.

The US envoy said that Washington would be “happy" to welcome Prime Minister Modi again, recalling that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had extended an invitation to the Prime Minister during his visit to India earlier this year.

The 2026 G20 Miami Summit is scheduled to take place from December 14-15 at the Trump National Doral Miami resort in Doral, Florida. This 21st meeting of the Group of Twenty (G20) will mark the first time the United States has hosted the leaders’ summit since 2009.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Shobhit Gupta

Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degre...Read More

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