New Delhi: “President Trump just spoke with Prime Minister Modi. STAY TUNED,” US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor wrote in a post on X around 9 pm (IST),
without giving any details about the nature of the call. Within hours, Trump announced a trade agreement with India through a post on Truth Social.
In his post, Trump mentioned a tariff cut on Indian goods to 18 per cent and claimed that India would buy $500 billion worth of US goods and reduce tariffs on American products to zero. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a post on X, confirmed the tariff reduction but did not comment on the nature or scope of the deal.
Gor, 38, took charge as the US Ambassador to India in January 2026. At a time of tariff disputes and strategic challenges, he is being credited with helping reshape India–US relations after the turbulence triggered by Trump’s tariffs in August 2025.
Gor’s appointment to India
Gor was among the first to react to the announcement, saying he was thrilled by the trade deal between Washington and New Delhi.
“As I have said many times, President Trump genuinely considers Prime Minister Modi a great friend! Thrilled by the news of the trade deal this evening. The relationship between the United States and India has LIMITLESS POTENTIAL!” he wrote on X.
As I have said many times, President Trump genuinely considers Prime Minister Modi a great friend! Thrilled by the news of the trade deal this evening. The relationship between the United States and India has LIMITLESS POTENTIAL!
— Ambassador Sergio Gor (@USAmbIndia) February 2, 2026
Gor is considered one of Trump’s most trusted allies, and his appointment as the US envoy to India had generated significant buzz. Political experts viewed it as part of Washington’s effort to repair strained bilateral ties.
Trump’s earlier announcement of 25 per cent reciprocal tariffs and an additional 25 per cent penalty on Indian goods had hurt relations. The penalty was imposed after Trump accused India of helping Russia fund its war in Ukraine by purchasing discounted crude oil.
Upon arriving in New Delhi, Gor struck an optimistic note, posting: “Great to be back in India! Incredible opportunities ahead for our two nations!”
From the outset, he positioned himself as a bridge between Trump and Modi, attempting to ease tensions. “Real friends can disagree but always resolve their differences in the end,” Gor said at an event last month.
Gor also invited India to join the Pax Silica alliance, an initiative focused on securing critical semiconductor supply chains and AI infrastructure. He also referred to Trump’s expected visit to India.
The latest trade deal and the US decision to reduce tariffs from 50 per cent to 18 per cent appears to validate Gor’s optimism. While the agreement may not be ideal in every respect, India is seen as being better placed than several regional competitors.
From Sergey Gorokhovsky to Sergio Gor
Born Sergey Gorokhovsky in 1986 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Gor went on to become one of Trump’s most trusted advisers. After earning a degree in political science from George Washington University, he built his profile in Republican circles. He began his career in Kentucky Senator Rand Paul’s office and gradually entered Trump’s inner circle.
After living in Malta, his family moved to the United States in the late 1990s, where he obtained American citizenship. In 2020, he became Chief of Staff of the Trump Victory Finance Committee. Despite Trump’s election loss, Gor remained a close confidant.
Before becoming ambassador, Gor served as Director of the White House Personnel Office, overseeing the appointment of about 4,000 federal employees and implementing a “loyalty test” to ensure ideological alignment within the administration.
His closeness to the Trump family is such that he is often referred to as the “Mayor of Mar-a-Lago” due to his frequent presence at Trump’s golf resort.
Missing details of the deal
Despite Trump’s claim that India would reduce both tariff and non-tariff barriers to zero for US goods, Modi’s post did not mention these specifics. It also remains unclear whether India will fully cut its imports of Russian crude, as Trump has suggested.
More clarity is expected in the coming days, with Gor indicating that a few technical issues will be worked out over the next two to three days.
