Trump pushes India's Modi on 'fair' trade

US President Donald Trump pressed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for "fair" trading ties in a call Monday, the White House said, as Trump continues to push his hardline trade agenda with world leaders.

Trump however also discussed plans for a visit to the White House by Modi, the Hindu nationalist leader with whom he had close ties in his first term as president, a readout of the call said.

The White House said the call was "productive" and that the two leaders "discussed expanding and deepening cooperation."

During the call Trump "emphasized the importance of India increasing its procurement of American-made security equipment and moving toward a fair bilateral trading relationship."

Trump and Modi also discussed strengthening the so-called "Quad" grouping with Australia and Japan, which is widely seen as a counterweight to China. India is due to host the bloc's leaders later this year.

Modi earlier said on X that he was "delighted to speak with my dear friend" Trump.

The Indian and US leaders -- whom critics both accuse of authoritarian tendencies -- enjoyed warm relations when Trump was in the White House from 2017 to 2021.

Modi hosted Trump at a huge rally in his home state of Gujarat, while Trump returned the favor with a similar event in Houston, Texas.

But their personal ties failed to bring a breakthrough on a long-sought US-India trade deal.

Trump has taken an aggressive stance on trade in his first week in office as he seeks to redress what he says is an imbalance with other countries "ripping off" the United States.

He has promised to slap tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China, and over the weekend threatened tariffs against Colombia after it refused to take in deported migrants aboard several US military planes. Colombia eventually backed down.

Trump 'not 100% sure' he's barred from third term

US President Donald Trump once again hinted at the idea of serving a third term, saying he was "not 100 percent sure" he was barred from doing so under the Constitution, which forbids it.

Trump has repeatedly alluded to the possibility that he might go beyond the current two-term limit for US presidents -- but while he often strikes a light-hearted tone the remarks remain provocative.

"I've raised a lot of money for the next race that I assume I can't use for myself, but I'm not 100 percent sure, because I don't know... I think I'm not allowed to run again," Trump told an audience of Congressional Republicans in Miami.

To laughter, Trump turned to Republican House Leader Mike Johnson and added: "I'm not sure, am I allowed to run again? Mike? I better not get you involved in that argument."

Trump was inaugurated for his second spell in the White House a week ago, becoming just the second president in US history to serve two non-consecutive terms.

US presidents are limited to two terms in office by the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, which was ratified in 1951 -- partly as a response to Franklin D. Roosevelt's unprecedented four terms as president from 1933-1945.

A Republican in the US House introduced a super-long-shot resolution last week to change the constitution to allow Trump to get another term.

Trump has alluded to extending his stay on a number of occasions and joked about it as recently Saturday, during a rally in Nevada.

"It will be the greatest honor my life to serve not once, but twice -- or three times or four times," he said with a laugh, before adding to cheers from the audience: "Headlines for the fake news."

In November, in another speech to House Republicans shortly after his election win, Trump said: "I suspect I won't be running again unless you say, 'He's good, we got to figure something else.'"

Trump told an audience of conservative Christians in July: "Christians, get out and vote. Just this time... Four more years, it'll be fixed, it'll be fine, you won’t have to vote anymore."