Jaishankar concludes U.S. visit, lauds "confident" Trump administration 2.0

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar wrapped up his four-day visit to Washington D.C. on Wednesday, praising the incoming Trump 2.0 administration as “confident and upbeat.” The visit coincided with the swearing-in of Donald Trump as the 47th President of the United States on January 20.

Speaking to Indian reporters, Jaishankar, 70, described the administration’s strong resolve. “What I saw was a very confident and upbeat incoming administration. There’s a sense of ‘we need to get things done,’” he remarked as he concluded his visit.

During his stay, Jaishankar represented India at the invitation of the U.S. government. He was seated in the front row at the Capitol Rotunda during the presidential inauguration and also attended the inaugural ball. In addition, he held bilateral talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, focusing on strengthening ties between the two nations.

Jaishankar also participated in a multilateral Quad meeting, reinforcing India’s commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. His visit included interactions with top officials from the Trump administration, highlighting India’s proactive engagement with the U.S. under the renewed leadership.

The visit reflects India’s intent to deepen strategic, economic, and defense ties with the U.S., as the two democracies continue to work together on global and regional challenges.