Trump had no idea of India’s border with China

■ Details of US President’s maiden visit to India is being worked out, says official

Even as India and the United States were finalising US President Donald Trump’s maiden visit to India, a book revealed Mr Trump’s shaky grasp of geography includes not knowing that India shares a border with China.

According to a new book, A Very Stable Genius by The Washington Post reporters Philip Rucker and Carol Leonnig, the US President’s ignorance of basic geography had shocked Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“It’s not like you’ve got China on your border,” the authors quoted Mr Trump as telling Mr Modi during a meeting between the two leaders.

Following Mr Trump’s border comment and seeming dismissal of the threat China poses to India, “Modi’s eyes bulged out in surprise,” according to the book, excerpts of which were published in the Washington Post on Wednesday.

“Modi’s expression gradually shifted, from shock and concern to resignation,” it said. However, the Washington Post report did not mention the year in which President Trump made this gaffe.

The book quoted a Trump aide as saying that Modi probably “left that meeting and said, ‘This is not a serious man. I cannot count on this man as a partner’”.

“After the meeting”, the aide told the authors, “the Indians took a step back in their diplomatic relations with the United States.”

Following the incident, however, Mr Modi and Mr Trump developed a personal rapport. Mr Modi extended an invitation last year for Mr Trump to attend the Republic Day celebrations as a chief guest. Mr Trump, however, indicated that it would not be convenient for him.

There is also speculation that President Trump is eyeing the increasingly significant IndianAmerican vote in the US ahead of the Presidential polls there in November this year when he will be seeking re-election. It is also being speculated that a successful visit to India therefore at this stage may also increase the chances of his securing a large percentage of IndianAmerican votes.

Speaking to reporters here on Thursday, ministry of external affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, “When Prime Minister Narendra Modi had (earlier) met President Trump, he had invited him to visit India... Both nations, through diplomatic channels, are constantly in touch with each other on this. Which day, which month, where all he will visit, there is still time to decide that. There is a proper procedure for announcing such highlevel visits. When we have definite information, it will be shared.”

“IT’S NOT like you’ve got China on your border," the authors quoted US President Donald Trump as telling Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a meeting between the two leaders.

FOLLOWING MR TRUMP’S comment, the book claims “Modi’s eyes bulged out in surprise.”