India’s Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar who attended President Donald Trump’s inaugural ceremonies as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Special Envoy, described the event as “very impressive,” and that he was “treated well.”
At a press conference on January 22, 2025, accompanied by Indian Ambassador to the United States, Vinay Kwatra, and Joint Secretary (Americas) Nagaraj Naidu, at the Indian Embassy in Washington, D.C., Jaishankar provided insights into inaugural ceremonies, US-India bilateral ties, and the Quad.

When asked by South Asian Herald to share some key highlights about the inauguration, Jaishankar expressed, “What I saw was really a very confident, upbeat, incoming administration. I mean that feeling, that look, that we need to get things done. And where India is concerned, that you are a partner with whom we can get things done. That’s because there is already a strong chemistry between the President and the Prime Minister.”
Jaishankar who was seated on the front row with other dignitaries during the swearing-in ceremony at the Capitol Rotunda, highlighted the palpable energy of the incoming administration. He emphasized that the “energy,” and “enthusiasm,” he witnessed clearly align with India’s aspirations to elevate the bilateral relationship.
He noted that the administration had been not only “extraordinarily active,” in the past 48 hours but also proactive even before taking office. Jaishankar remarked that the “levels of trust are very high,” while commenting on the U.S.-India relations at this moment.
He highlighted the Trump administration’s eagerness to have India represented at the inauguration and expressed gratitude for the acknowledgment of India’s significant role. He further conveyed that the “Special Envoy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi was treated well.”
Jaishankar shared that, despite dealing with the U.S. for over 40 years, this was the first time he attended an inauguration. “It’s been a great honor for me to represent the Prime Minister and the Government of India at this important occasion. And I do think that my presence here is not only a testament about the relationship, but has also been a very valuable opportunity…”

During his visit, Jaishankar met key U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, House Speaker Mike Johnson, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, and cabinet members in the new administration. He also participated in the Quad Foreign Ministers’ meeting alongside counterparts from Japan and Australia, who also attended the inaugural activities.
Jaishankar also addressed concerns about potential deportations of undocumented Indian nationals. He underscored, “We have always taken the view that if there are any of our citizens who are not here legally, if we are sure that they are our citizens, we’ve always been open to their legitimate return to India. So, it’s not a position unique to the United States.”
During his discussions with Secretary Rubio, he reaffirmed India’s readiness to accept the “autonomous processes,” of the United States while advocating for legal and mutually beneficial mobility.
Additionally, he raised concerns about visa delays for Indian nationals, emphasizing that such hurdles hinder business, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges, which are vital to the bilateral relationship.
Jaishankar underscored the commitment of the Trump administration to prioritizing India-U.S. relations, building on initiatives from its previous term. According to him, both sides agreed on the need for “bolder and more ambitious,” goals particularly in technology, education, defense, and trade. He stressed the importance of streamlining regulatory processes to ease business operations and foster greater collaboration.

“So, I did see understanding and recognition that we need to make this process much smoother than it has in the past, so that it actually enables us to achieve our shared objective of this ambitious relationship,” he said.
Reflecting on the relationship between the two nations, Jaishankar highlighted a high level of trust and convergence of interests. He also discussed with US officials about translating this trust into actionable partnerships across sectors including technology, industrial partnerships, education, defense, and security.
He also noted that both sides recognized that both PM Modi and President Trump approach the world “with a clear sense of national interests,” and believe in the “mutuality of benefits,” in any interaction. As such, he expressed optimism that India and the U.S. are well-positioned to further strengthen their partnership.
On the Quad, Jaishankar emphasized the administration’s enthusiasm for intensifying activities, noting its alignment with India’s vision of strengthening regional partnerships. He remarked that the Quad’s revival in 2017 under President Trump set the stage for deeper engagement. He further noted that the meeting was a significant step in advancing Quad initiatives, especially as India prepares to host the Quad Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi later this year.
Referring to the March 19, 2023, attack on the Indian Consulate in San Francisco, Foreign Minister Jaishankar described the incident as a “very serious matter,” and emphasized that India expects those responsible to be held accountable.