During his ongoing four-day visit to India, U.S. Vice President JD Vance has spoken warmly about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s hospitality, highlighting the personal connection his family, especially his young children, developed with the Indian leader.
Speaking at the Rajasthan International Centre in Jaipur on Tuesday, Vance said his family had been deeply touched by Modi's graciousness during a dinner hosted at the Prime Minister’s residence. Vance’s seven-year-old son Ewan was so moved by the experience that he told his father he “could live in India.”
However, Vance also humorously added that after braving the intense Jaipur sun during a visit to the historic Amber Fort, Ewan jokingly changed his mind and suggested they might rather move to England — a moment that drew laughter from the audience.
Calling PM Modi a “special person,” Vance recounted an earlier interaction during the AI Action Summit in Paris, when Modi personally brought a birthday gift for Vance’s second son Vivek, who was turning five at the time. “Amid a huge international policy conference, he took the time to stop by where I was staying and wish Vivek a happy birthday… Usha and I were genuinely touched by his graciousness,” said Vance.
He noted that his three children — Ewan, Vivek, and three-year-old Mirabel — had built a natural rapport with both President Donald Trump and PM Modi, calling them “strong characters” with an energy that kids connect with. “They liked him a lot… I also like the PM too, and I think it’s a great foundation for the future of our relationship,” he added.
Highlights from Vance's India Trip:
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Arrival in Delhi: After a weekend in Italy, the Vance family landed in India and visited Delhi landmarks like the Akshardham temple and the Central Cottage Industries Emporium.
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Meeting with PM Modi: Vance held wide-ranging talks with Modi, focusing on defence, energy, and strategic technologies. PM Modi also gifted peacock feathers to Vance’s children.
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Bilateral Trade Talks: India and the U.S. reported “significant progress” toward a mutually beneficial trade pact, which both nations have been working on since PM Modi’s February meeting with Trump in Washington DC.
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Visit to Jaipur: In Jaipur, the family explored Amber Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Vance delivered a key speech on India-U.S. relations at RIC.
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Next Stop – Agra: On April 23, the Vances will visit the Taj Mahal and Shilpgram, a cultural emporium. They will return to Jaipur in the evening and depart for the U.S. on April 24.
This is the first U.S. Vice Presidential visit to India in 12 years, the last being Joe Biden’s visit in 2013. Vance’s emphasis on personal warmth and shared values, along with concrete diplomatic discussions, underscores the growing closeness in India-U.S. ties, now marked by genuine family-level engagement.
