Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday delivered a spirited response to President Donald Trump's characterization of India as a "dead economy," asserting that the country is on track to become the world's third-largest economy and calling for unity behind domestic products.

Speaking at a rally in Varanasi, Modi indirectly addressed Trump's comments without naming the US president, emphasizing India's economic trajectory amid global tensions. "There is an atmosphere of global instability. All countries are focusing on their individual interests. India is going to become the third biggest economy in the world and that is why India will have to stay alert as far as its economic interests are concerned", Modi stated.

The Prime Minister's remarks came in response to Trump's July 31 post on Truth Social, where the US president wrote, "I don't care what India does with Russia. They can take their dead economies down together, for all I care". Trump's comments followed the announcement of 25% tariffs on nearly all imports from India, marking an escalation in trade tensions between the two nations.