Government sources said New Delhi was communicating its established protocol for leaders’ public appearances, not seeking to control the substance of the meeting.
According to Sergio Gor, India had requested media access without a full press conference, but Trump invited questions after the leaders’ opening remarks.
The format eventually expanded into an extended press interaction covering multiple issues, including trade and the safety of Indian seafarers amid West Asia tensions
India has pushed back against US Ambassador Sergio Gor’s remarks about media access during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with US President Donald Trump, saying discussions over arrangements for leaders’ public appearances are a routine part of VVIP protocol.
Government sources told CNN-News18 that New Delhi had communicated its standard practices for such engagements rather than seeking to dictate the content or format of the leaders’ interaction.
1 August 2026
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What India Said About Media Access
The response followed comments by Gor suggesting that India had asked Washington to allow journalists into the meeting room but avoid a full-fledged press conference.
Indian government sources said discussions on how leaders appear publicly during high-level visits are normal. They framed the communication as part of India's established protocol for VVIP engagements.
The clarification comes after Gor publicly recounted how the arrangement unfolded during the Modi-Trump meeting on June 17.
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What Sergio Gor Said Happened
Speaking at the Economic Times World Leaders Forum, Gor recalled discussing the upcoming meeting with Trump and briefing him on the issues India was expected to raise.
According to Gor, the Ministry of External Affairs had requested that journalists be permitted into the meeting but that the interaction should not develop into a full press conference.
“I told the president, I said, the Indians prefer no questions. He said, sure, no problem,” Gor said.
The arrangement changed once the two leaders completed their opening remarks in front of reporters and cameras. Trump then turned to the journalists and asked, “Any questions?”
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Gor said the intervention effectively changed the format, eventually turning the interaction into a roughly 45-minute press conference, with a wide range of issues discussed publicly.
What Was Discussed Between Modi And Trump?
Modi and Trump met on June 17 on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France.
The meeting took place as India and the US continued negotiations on trade while conflicts in West Asia were creating growing concerns over energy supplies and shipping routes.
The safety of Indian seafarers was among the issues raised by Modi. He highlighted concerns over Indian sailors operating around the Strait of Hormuz following a US Navy attack on a commercial vessel that killed three Indian mariners.
“Many Indian seafarers in the Strait of Hormuz, their safety is of the utmost importance,” Modi told Trump.
Trump, meanwhile, said the US would support India if it came under attack from another country.
