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New Delhi: US President Donald Trump on Sunday made a surprise audio call to US Ambassador in India, Sergio Gor. The call came as Gor was with visiting US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio and both of them were attending an event at the US Embassy. The event marked celebrations of the 250th US Independence Day.

The US President can be heard saying on the call, “I just want to say hello to everybody. I love the Prime Minister. Modi is great. He is my friend.”

Trump further went on to offer his country’s support to India. He said, “We have never been closer to India, and India can count on me 100% and our country. If they ever need help, they know who they call. They call right here.”

He then went on to add, “We’re doing well. We’re setting records. We have a record economy, a record stock and anything India wants again. And I am a big fan of Prime Minister Modi.”

#WATCH | Delhi | US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor connects with the US President live at the 250th Independence Day celebration.

US President Donald Trump says, “…I love India…I just want to say hello to everybody. I love the Prime Minister. PM Modi is great, he is my… pic.twitter.com/MxPrFWKdWO

— ANI (@ANI)

The event was addressed by visiting US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar and US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor.

Speaking at the programme, Gor hailed the close personal relationship between President Trump and PM Narendra Modi. He recalled, “Every time the President (Trump) and I speak, one of the first questions he asks is “How is my friend Prime Minister (Modi) doing?”. He added, “That is something important to convey because this relationship is not new.”

He further highlighted the India-US relationship as the “foundation of a new era” and highlighted the recent developments in the bilateral relationship. He said that both the countries are building a future of tangible achievements.

US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio is on a 4-day visit to India. He has already met PM Narendra Modi in Delhi. He also met External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar. Both of them discussed defence, trade and energy cooperation, between India and the US.

Speaking at the Embassy event, Rubio thanked India for the hospitality shown to him after his arrival here. He had special appreciation for S Jaishankar, saying that he had got to know him well now.

He recalled that after he joined as the US Secretary of State, one of his first interactions was with Jaishankar at a Quad group meeting. He said that India and US “shared so many values and so many common interests.”

The visit of Rubio to India comes at a time when several Indian immigrants are feeling vulnerable in the US, following major changes in immigration policy. The US asked many immigrants already living legally in the US to leave and apply for permanent residency – or green card – from abroad.