He's like me, doesn't sleep: US envoy on when Trump said to call PM Modi at 6 am
US Ambassador Sergio Gor said Donald Trump once suggested calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi at 6 am in India during an event. He said the episode reflected a personal rapport that sits apart from formal diplomatic scheduling.
US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor has highlighted the strong personal rapport between Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying the President views the latter as a friend with whom communication does not always follow formal schedules.
Speaking at the IX USISPF Leadership Summit 2026, Gor shared an anecdote from an interaction with Trump, recalling how the President unexpectedly suggested calling PM Modi during an event.
“I was at an event with President Trump. And he says suddenly let's call PM Modi. I told him that it was 6 am in India. But Trump said Modi would be up. 'He is like me. He doesn't sleep',” the envoy said.
He said the significance of the incident was not just the phone call itself, but the nature of the relationship the two leaders share.
“The louder message of that story is that when you are friends with somebody, not everything has to be scheduled. And the President truly considers the Prime Minister a friend. When you're friends with somebody, you pick up the phone and say, 'how are you doing?' Not everything has to be scheduled 6 weeks in advance. And this is how he (Trump) sees India,” the top diplomat added.
The US envoy said Trump’s equation with Modi was different from his interactions with several other world leaders.
“This is not with all leaders of the world. We do schedule things with leaders, he doesn't consider them at the same level as the PM. His years with the PM go back to his first term,” Gor added.
US WANTS PM BACK AT WHITE HOUSE
On the sidelines of the summit, Gor told news agency ANI that the US would welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s return visit, adding that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had extended an invitation on behalf of President Donald Trump.
“We would love to have him back here. And I know he's coming in December for the G20,” Gor said.
The 2026 G20 Summit is scheduled to take place in Miami from December 14-15, marking the first time the United States will host the leaders’ summit since 2009.
Asked about the possibility of Trump visiting India, Gor said such a trip was unlikely during the US midterm election period and would likely be considered next year.
“It's not any time during the midterms. It has to be somewhere next year... We would love to make that happen sooner rather than later,” he added.
US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor has highlighted the strong personal rapport between Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying the President views the latter as a friend with whom communication does not always follow formal schedules.
Speaking at the IX USISPF Leadership Summit 2026, Gor shared an anecdote from an interaction with Trump, recalling how the President unexpectedly suggested calling PM Modi during an event.
“I was at an event with President Trump. And he says suddenly let's call PM Modi. I told him that it was 6 am in India. But Trump said Modi would be up. 'He is like me. He doesn't sleep',” the envoy said.
He said the significance of the incident was not just the phone call itself, but the nature of the relationship the two leaders share.
“The louder message of that story is that when you are friends with somebody, not everything has to be scheduled. And the President truly considers the Prime Minister a friend. When you're friends with somebody, you pick up the phone and say, 'how are you doing?' Not everything has to be scheduled 6 weeks in advance. And this is how he (Trump) sees India,” the top diplomat added.
The US envoy said Trump’s equation with Modi was different from his interactions with several other world leaders.
“This is not with all leaders of the world. We do schedule things with leaders, he doesn't consider them at the same level as the PM. His years with the PM go back to his first term,” Gor added.
US WANTS PM BACK AT WHITE HOUSE
On the sidelines of the summit, Gor told news agency ANI that the US would welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s return visit, adding that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had extended an invitation on behalf of President Donald Trump.
“We would love to have him back here. And I know he's coming in December for the G20,” Gor said.
The 2026 G20 Summit is scheduled to take place in Miami from December 14-15, marking the first time the United States will host the leaders’ summit since 2009.
Asked about the possibility of Trump visiting India, Gor said such a trip was unlikely during the US midterm election period and would likely be considered next year.
“It's not any time during the midterms. It has to be somewhere next year... We would love to make that happen sooner rather than later,” he added.
