US envoy Sergio Gor said President Donald Trump agreed to India’s request for no press questions during his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the G7 summit but then held a 45-minute press conference immediately after their opening remarks. The incident occurred during the G7 summit earlier this year, where India’s Ministry of External Affairs wanted media presence without a full press conference, Gor explained.
Gor, who was with Trump before the meeting, said the US President had discussed what India was expected to raise during the talks. Despite the agreement to avoid questions, Trump opened the floor to reporters after the leaders’ opening statements, effectively forgetting the prior arrangement. The Indian side had requested a limited media presence, aiming to avoid a full press conference, according to Gor’s remarks at the Economic Times event.
The episode highlights the complexities of diplomatic protocols during high-profile summits like the G7, where managing media access is sensitive. India’s request to limit press interaction was unusual but aimed at controlling the narrative around the bilateral meeting. Such arrangements are often negotiated to balance transparency with diplomatic discretion, especially between leaders like Trump and Modi, who attract significant media attention.
Sergio Gor’s comments were made public on August 23, 2026, during an Economic Times event, shedding light on behind-the-scenes diplomatic negotiations at the G7 summit. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs had sought a no-question format, but the subsequent press conference lasted 45 minutes, drawing attention to the divergence from the initial agreement.