President Donald Trump was greeted at a rally in India on Monday morning to approximately 110,000 cheering Indian fans of his who were wearing white “Trump” hats.
As Trump entered Sardar Patel Stadium in Motera, on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, India played “Macho Man” by Village People.
WATCH:
India plays "Macho Man" by Village People as Trump enters Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad, which is packed with 110,000 Indians wearing white "Trump" hats pic.twitter.com/tJW08sNNDa
— Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) February 24, 2020
Prior to boarding Marine One on Sunday, Trump told reporters about the trip to India, “Well, I look forward to being with the people of India. We’re going to have many millions and millions of people. It’s a long trip.”
“But I get along very well with the Prime Minister, Prime Minister Modi. He’s a friend of mine. I committed to this trip a long time ago, and I look forward to going,” Trump continued. “We’re taking — as you know, the First Lady is coming. Some of you are coming. I hear it’s going to be a big event. Some people say the biggest event they’ve ever had in India. That’s what the Prime Minister told me. This will be the biggest event they’ve ever had. So it’s going to be very exciting. I’m going to be there one night. That’s not too much.”
Our two national constitutions both begin with the same three beautiful words: “We the people.” That means that in America and India alike, we honor, respect, trust, empower, and fight for the citizens we proudly serve! 🇺🇸🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/hfKKSqlVfe
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 24, 2020
The White House announced Trump’s visit to India earlier this month in a statement:
President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will visit India on February 24 – 25, 2020. The President and The First Lady will travel to New Delhi and Ahmedabad, which is in Prime Minister Modi’s home state of Gujarat and played such an important role in Mahatma Gandhi’s life and leadership of the Indian independence movement. During a phone call over the weekend, President Trump and Prime Minister Modi agreed the trip will further strengthen the United States-India strategic partnership and highlight the strong and enduring bonds between the American and Indian people.
Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi tweeted: “India looks forward to welcoming @POTUS @realDonaldTrump . It is an honour that he will be with us tomorrow, starting with the historic programme in Ahmedabad!”
India looks forward to welcoming @POTUS @realDonaldTrump.
It is an honour that he will be with us tomorrow, starting with the historic programme in Ahmedabad! https://t.co/fAVx9OUu1j
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 23, 2020
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India opted to appeal to Mr. Trump’s first love — crowd size — as he stages a rally of more than 100,000 people in Ahmedabad on Monday after a drive in from the airport along roads where perhaps 100,000 more will line the motorcade route,” The New York Times reported. “The president will almost certainly not be greeted by the 10 million people he expects, but it will look like an enormous crowd nonetheless and, the Indians hope, satisfy his need for affirmation.”
The Times noted how foreign leaders have made it a point to impress Trump when he visits their countries.
“The British have a queen, so they made a grand show of a state dinner at Buckingham Palace. The French have Bastille Day, so they invited the president to view their elaborate military parade down the Champs-Élysées,” the Times added. “The Japanese have an emperor, so they invited Mr. Trump to be the first foreign leader to visit their newly installed monarch — and threw in a sumo match with a special presidential trophy for good measure.”