US President Donald Trump said he threatened India and Pakistan with 250 per cent tariffs to help spur the resolution of their conflict earlier this year, describing Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as “the nicest-looking guy” who was also a “killer” eager to fight.
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Trump made the comments on Wednesday while addressing a meeting of corporate leaders at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Gyeongju, South Korea.
Trump has repeatedly claimed credit for solving the four-day armed conflict, angering officials in India who have rejected his claims of mediation.
Modi skipped a regional leaders summit in Malaysia this week as Indian officials were apprehensive that Trump would repeat his claim that he mediated the ceasefire, people familiar with the matter said.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
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Back in May, Vice-President J.D. Vance spoke with Modi in a bid to find an off-ramp to the fighting, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio also speaking to his counterpart.