MEA denies requesting press blackout at Modi-Trump bilateral meeting

U.S. officials have pushed back against suggestions that India's Ministry of External Affairs requested a media blackout during bilateral talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump, characterizing the arrangement as routine diplomatic practice.

According to sources familiar with the event, the protocols followed were standard for such high-level engagements and did not reflect any unusual request from the Indian side. The clarification came after reports indicated that the MEA had sought to limit press interactions during the meeting.

However, U.S. Ambassador officials acknowledged that Trump departed from the initial framework by extending his engagement with journalists to approximately 45 minutes, suggesting the American delegation had moved beyond what was originally planned for the bilateral.

The discrepancy highlights the sometimes fluid nature of diplomatic proceedings, where events can evolve based on participants' preferences. Officials on both sides emphasized that the meeting proceeded smoothly and that any variations from the original schedule were manageable within normal diplomatic channels.

The incident underscores the delicate balance both nations maintain in managing media access during sensitive diplomatic engagements, particularly when high-profile leaders are involved.