How U.S. and international media covered the Modi -Trump Houston rally

Prime Minster Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump showered praises on each other in their addresses at the ‘Howdy Modi!’ event in Houston attended by over 50,000 Indian-Americans at the NRG stadium. Sept. 22. International, Indian and U.S. media covered the unprecedented event extensively. Modi took the centre-stage and even endorsed Donald Trump with “Abki Baar, Trump Sarkar,” the U.S. President also heaped praises on his "close friend.”

The New York Times observed how Trump played second fiddle to Modi. In an article titled: “At Rally for India’s Modi, Trump Plays Second Fiddle but a Familiar Tune,” Michael D. Shear wrote: “But never one to let a good crowd go to waste, Mr. Trump treated the giant gathering at NRG Stadium in Houston as his own, declaring that "you have never had a better friend as president than President Donald Trump, that I can tell you."

The Washington Post, drawing a similar comparison of the two leaders, said, “Trump plays unusual role of warm-up act at massive Modi rally in Houston.” In the Post article, Phil Rucker wrote: “The leaders of the world's two largest democracies took the stage together in Houston before a roaring crowd of tens of thousands of Indian Americans, where Modi delivered an unmistakable endorsement of Trump's presidency and cast their joint appearance in historic terms.”

In a separate op-ed piece in the New York Times, Roger Cohen wrote, “Trump and Modi are both forceful, media-savvy politicians. But they are not alike. Modi, a self-made man from a poor family, is measured, ascetic, not driven by impulse. Trump was born on third base. He’s erratic, guided by the devouring needs of his ego. I’d bet on Modi to transform India, all of it, including the newly integrated Kashmir region.”

BBC covered the event with the headline: 'Howdy, Modi!': Trump hails Indian PM at 'historic' Texas rally, while the Guardian wrote “The event had the feel of one of Trump’s campaign rallies, complete with a packed venue and a roaring crowd, and Trump treated it that way at times.”

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported how the joint appearance of Modi and Trump before a strong crowd of 50,000 Indian-Americans underscores the growing strategic significance of the relationship between the two largest democracies of the world. "The joint appearance also underscores the growing strategic significance of U.S.-India ties. The world's two largest democracies are a vital check on China's ambitions to dominate the Asia-Pacific region, as Mr. Trump recognizes and Barack Obama did as well.”

According to the Associated Press, “The event had the feel of one of Trump’s campaign rallies, complete with a packed venue and a roaring crowd, and Trump treated it that way at times. He ticked off his accomplishments in office, highlighted a drop in the unemployment rate among Indian Americans and extolled their contributions to the US as he pitched for their vote in a Republican state Democrats have visions of winning next year.”

USA Today focused on highlighting the leadership style of both Modi and Trump. It said, “Trump spoke of shared values among the world’s two largest democracies, but it was hardly the only thing they had in common. Both are known for brash styles, contempt for the news media and a predilection for 280-character missives to huge followings on Twitter.”

Ahead of the rally, Senator and Democratic candidate for the 2020 presidential election Bernie Sanders wrote for the Houston Chronicle. “When President Trump meets with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Houston, we will hear much about the friendship between the American and Indian peoples. However, there will be a deafening silence when it comes to a human rights crisis unfolding right before our eyes — and that is unacceptable.”

The CNN wrote that the Houston event was an opportunity for both Modi to show the U.S. President they can deliver in ways that are especially appealing to Trump.” The Indian prime minister appealed directly to Trump's crowd-craving sensibilities with a large stadium event, giving Trump a rally setting where he tends to thrive and feel invigorated,” it said.

Interestingly, Fox News is the only one to give airtime for Trump and Modi’s speeches.

In an opinion piece in the Texas Observer, published prior to the Sept. 22 event, Sukhada Tatke wrote that the roots of Narendra Modi’s divisiveness are at odds with the idea of a diverse Houston. Referring to the Sept. 22 rally, she said: “Houston, too, will bask in the glory of an event that promises to strengthen ties between the world’s oldest and the world’s largest democracies. But amid this euphoric brouhaha, it should be noted that Modi, one of the most divisive world leaders of our times, is in complete contradiction with the pluralistic idea of Houston.”

Meanwhile, back in India, the Times of India highlighted how When Article 370 took center stage in India and abroad. The newspapers in Pakistan, however, focused on the protests outside and not the actual event. “Hundreds of people belonging to various ethnicities came out to hold an ‘anti-Modi demonstration’ outside NRG Stadium, where they called attention to the ‘racist Modi regime’ and its ongoing human rights violations in India-occupied Jammu and Kashmir,” the Dawn reported.

In a separate editorial, the newspaper also wrote that Pakistan being soft on jihadis hasn't helped the country's cause. “The issue of Kashmir is an emotional one and dear to most Pakistanis,” it said. “This is why successive governments in this country have given sustained diplomatic and moral support to the Kashmiris in their just struggle for rights against India. However, past adventurism, especially by non-state actors and self-proclaimed jihadis, has done more harm than good to the Kashmir cause, besides tarnishing Pakistan’s global reputation."