India calls leader media arrangements ‘normal practice’ after Sergio Gor remarks
US President Donald Trump and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi speak during a bilateral meeting as part of the G7 summit, in Evian, eastern France, on June 17, 2026. Photograph: (AFP)
The Indian government said discussions over public appearances by leaders are normal practice after US Ambassador Sergio Gor's remarks on the Modi-Trump G7 meeting.
The Union Government on Monday clarified that the discussion between two nations about the arrangement of a public appearance by their leader is a “normal practice”, PTI reported, citing government sources. This follows the government's clarification of US Ambassador Sergio Gor's remarks about the bilateral meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Evian, France.
"Discussions regarding arrangements for public appearances of leaders are normal practice ahead of any VVIP visit," a government source told PTI.
"In this regard, the Indian side communicated its standard practice for such visits," the source added.
The June 17 bilateral meeting between the US and India came after three Indian sailors were killed by a US Navy attack on the commercial vessel in the Strait of Hormuz.
What did US envoy Sergio Gor say?
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During the Economic Times World Leaders Forum, Gor said that the Indian Ministry of External Affairs specifically requested that there should be no press interaction following the bilateral meet. But Trump supposedly forgot about that and, following the opening remarks, asked reporters if they had any questions, which followed a 45-minute press conference with reporters. Gor claimed, adding that the remark “opened everything up”.
“I told the president, I said, the Indians prefer no questions. He said, sure, no problem. So the meeting starts, the press comes in, there must have been 50 cameras, the president is sitting here, the prime minister is sitting there, they both speak for a few minutes. As soon as they get done, the first thing the president does, he looks up at the camera and say, any questions?” said Gor.
US Ambassador Sergio Gor shared the anecdote while discussing the India-US relationship and the personal friendship between US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
