India on Saturday dismissed a media report claiming that billionaire Elon Musk joined a recent phone conversation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump, asserting that the exchange was strictly between the two leaders.
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the March 24 call involved only Modi and Trump. “We have seen the story. The telephone conversation on March 24 was between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump only,” he said.
“As has been stated earlier, it provided the opportunity for exchange of views on the situation in West Asia,” he added.
The clarification came after a report by The New York Times, citing unnamed US officials, claimed that Musk had participated in the call, describing it as an “unusual appearance” by a private citizen in a conversation between two heads of state.
Also read: Musk joined phone call between Modi and Trump: Report
People familiar with the matter reiterated that the Prime Minister spoke only with Trump and that no third party was part of the interaction. They suggested that any clarification regarding the presence of others would have to come from Washington.
According to the report, it remained unclear why Musk would have been on the call or whether he spoke during the exchange. It also suggested that his alleged presence signalled a possible reconciliation with Trump after a reported fallout last year following Musk’s exit from a US government task force.
The call, initiated by Trump, was the first interaction between the two leaders since the onset of the West Asia conflict on February 28.
During the conversation, Modi emphasised the importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open, secure and accessible, highlighting its critical role in ensuring global peace, stability and economic well-being.
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