'Strong, healthy and wise man': Modi breaks tenure record; Trump says 'a great one he is'

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on becoming India’s longest-serving elected prime minister, marking the milestone on the day Modi completed 4,399 consecutive days in office since first taking oath on May 26, 2014.

This made Modi the country’s longest-serving elected prime minister, surpassing Jawaharlal Nehru’s 4,398 days in office.

Trump posted the message on Truth Social shortly before 11 pm, and Modi’s response followed about 30 minutes later.

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Trump's tribute to Modi

In his message, Trump called Modi “my friend” and said, “And a Great One he is!” He also described the Indian leader as “a strong, healthy, and wise man,” adding that Modi would have “many years of Greatness and Success ahead of him.”

The remarks came as world leaders and political figures sent congratulatory messages to Modi on the occasion of the tenure milestone.

Modi returns the courtesy

Modi replied by thanking Trump for the greeting and framing the exchange in the context of bilateral ties. “Thank you, President Trump, for your warm wishes,” Modi wrote, adding: “I look forward to working with you to further advance the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, for the benefit of both our nations and the world.”

Hindustan Times reported that the two leaders have exchanged messages on social media and spoken by phone earlier this year, including in April when they discussed the West Asia crisis, efforts around the Strait of Hormuz and bilateral cooperation.

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Foreign capitals join the chorus

The exchange followed a day of public congratulatory messages for Modi from several world leaders, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and others.

The milestone adds a new marker to Modi’s tenure, which began in 2014 and continued uninterrupted through June 10, 2026.

FAQs

Q1: Why is Narendra Modi now India's longest-serving elected prime minister?

Ans: Narendra Modi completed 4,399 consecutive days in office, surpassing Jawaharlal Nehru's record of 4,398 days as an elected prime minister.

Q2: What did Donald Trump say about Narendra Modi?

Ans: Trump congratulated Modi on the milestone, calling him a "strong, healthy, and wise man" and describing him as "a Great One."