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| Taj Mahal: US President Donald Trump visits India's 'monument of love' | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania have visited the Taj Mahal on the first day of their trip to India. | US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania have visited the Taj Mahal on the first day of their trip to India. |
| The iconic "monument to love" was the second stop in a 36-hour official visit, Mr Trump's first to India. | |
| Earlier in the day he landed in Gujarat, home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who greeted him along with tens of thousands of Indians. | Earlier in the day he landed in Gujarat, home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who greeted him along with tens of thousands of Indians. |
| The leaders of the world's two largest democracies will meet on Tuesday. No big deals are expected to be signed. | The leaders of the world's two largest democracies will meet on Tuesday. No big deals are expected to be signed. |
| Mr Trump received a colourful welcome in the northern city of Agra, which included dancers dressed as peacocks and horses. | Mr Trump received a colourful welcome in the northern city of Agra, which included dancers dressed as peacocks and horses. |
| While Mr Modi was not present, he was greeted by a close ally of his, Yogi Adityanath, the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh state, where Agra is located. | While Mr Modi was not present, he was greeted by a close ally of his, Yogi Adityanath, the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh state, where Agra is located. |
| The Trumps then left for the Taj Mahal, a 17th Century marble mausoleum built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his queen, Mumtaz Mahal. | The Trumps then left for the Taj Mahal, a 17th Century marble mausoleum built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his queen, Mumtaz Mahal. |
| It is perhaps India's most famous monument and is usually part of every visiting dignitary's itinerary. | It is perhaps India's most famous monument and is usually part of every visiting dignitary's itinerary. |
| Namaste, India | Namaste, India |
| Earlier, in Gujarat's Ahmedabad city, Mr Trump addressed a huge crowd at the Motera cricket stadium. | Earlier, in Gujarat's Ahmedabad city, Mr Trump addressed a huge crowd at the Motera cricket stadium. |
| "Namaste," he began to thunderous applause, before going on to refer to several Indian icons, from history to cricket to Bollywood. | "Namaste," he began to thunderous applause, before going on to refer to several Indian icons, from history to cricket to Bollywood. |
| "India will always hold a very special place in our hearts," he added. | "India will always hold a very special place in our hearts," he added. |
| He also had words of praise for Mr Modi: "Everybody loves him but I will tell you this, he is very tough. You are not just the pride of Gujarat, you are living proof that with hard work, Indians can accomplish anything they want." | He also had words of praise for Mr Modi: "Everybody loves him but I will tell you this, he is very tough. You are not just the pride of Gujarat, you are living proof that with hard work, Indians can accomplish anything they want." |
| However, he struggled to pronounce several Indian words - from Ahmedabad, the city where he was speaking, to Swami Vivekananda, an Indian philosopher, greatly admired by Mr Modi. He also called the Vedas - ancient Hindu texts - "Vestas". | However, he struggled to pronounce several Indian words - from Ahmedabad, the city where he was speaking, to Swami Vivekananda, an Indian philosopher, greatly admired by Mr Modi. He also called the Vedas - ancient Hindu texts - "Vestas". |
| He ended his speech by saying: "God bless India, God bless the United States of America - we love you, we love you very much." He spoke after Mr Modi, and the BBC's Rajini Vaidyanathan says crowds began leaving mid-way through the US president's speech. | He ended his speech by saying: "God bless India, God bless the United States of America - we love you, we love you very much." He spoke after Mr Modi, and the BBC's Rajini Vaidyanathan says crowds began leaving mid-way through the US president's speech. |
| Modi in the spotlight | Modi in the spotlight |
| Mr Trump's visit comes at an opportune time for Mr Modi, who has been under the spotlight in recent months following controversial decisions by his government. | Mr Trump's visit comes at an opportune time for Mr Modi, who has been under the spotlight in recent months following controversial decisions by his government. |
| In December, India passed a contentious new citizenship law granting amnesty to non-Muslim immigrants from three nearby countries. This prompted massive protests across the country, with critics accusing the government of marginalising India's more than 200 million Muslims - a charge the government denies. | In December, India passed a contentious new citizenship law granting amnesty to non-Muslim immigrants from three nearby countries. This prompted massive protests across the country, with critics accusing the government of marginalising India's more than 200 million Muslims - a charge the government denies. |
| But protests are still continuing, including in Delhi, where a policeman was killed on Monday after violence broke out hours ahead of Mr Trump's visit. | But protests are still continuing, including in Delhi, where a policeman was killed on Monday after violence broke out hours ahead of Mr Trump's visit. |
| Clashes had erupted between groups protesting against the citizenship law, and those in favour of it. | Clashes had erupted between groups protesting against the citizenship law, and those in favour of it. |
| In August, Mr Modi's government revoked the partial autonomy of the disputed territory of Indian-administered Kashmir, sparking protests in the Muslim-majority valley. Mobile phone connections and the internet have only been partially restored, and political leaders there are still under house arrest along with hundreds of others. | In August, Mr Modi's government revoked the partial autonomy of the disputed territory of Indian-administered Kashmir, sparking protests in the Muslim-majority valley. Mobile phone connections and the internet have only been partially restored, and political leaders there are still under house arrest along with hundreds of others. |
| The two decisions have sharply polarised India, and have been questioned by leaders abroad. | The two decisions have sharply polarised India, and have been questioned by leaders abroad. |
| But Mr Modi put on a grand public reception to welcome Mr Trump. In Gujarat he was greeted with a road show as crowds lined his route to the stadium. It featured performers from across the country, showcasing the arts from different states. | But Mr Modi put on a grand public reception to welcome Mr Trump. In Gujarat he was greeted with a road show as crowds lined his route to the stadium. It featured performers from across the country, showcasing the arts from different states. |
| Billboards along the route to the Motera stadium were emblazoned with pictures of the two men and carried slogans such as "two dynamic personalities, one momentous occasion". | Billboards along the route to the Motera stadium were emblazoned with pictures of the two men and carried slogans such as "two dynamic personalities, one momentous occasion". |
| Mr Trump entered to the music of Elton John, which he is known to love, playing on the speakers. | Mr Trump entered to the music of Elton John, which he is known to love, playing on the speakers. |
| The event is being compared to the "Howdy, Modi!" event that Mr Trump and Mr Modi held in Houston last year, which was attended by 50,000 people. | The event is being compared to the "Howdy, Modi!" event that Mr Trump and Mr Modi held in Houston last year, which was attended by 50,000 people. |
| A visit to Gandhi's home | A visit to Gandhi's home |
| Mr Trump also made a quick stop at the Sabarmati Ashram, where Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi, who was born in Gujarat, lived for 13 years. | Mr Trump also made a quick stop at the Sabarmati Ashram, where Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi, who was born in Gujarat, lived for 13 years. |
| He and First Lady Melania Trump tried their hand at the charka or spinning wheel, which is used to spin cloth. Gandhi popularised the act as a form of protest against foreign-made cloth during India's struggle for self-rule. | He and First Lady Melania Trump tried their hand at the charka or spinning wheel, which is used to spin cloth. Gandhi popularised the act as a form of protest against foreign-made cloth during India's struggle for self-rule. |
| But amid the fanfare, a much-talked about trade deal is unlikely to happen during the Trump trip. | But amid the fanfare, a much-talked about trade deal is unlikely to happen during the Trump trip. |
| The US is one of India's most important trade partners, with bilateral trade totalling $142.6bn (£110.3bn) in 2018. The US had a $25.2bn goods and services trade deficit with India, its ninth largest trading partner in goods. | The US is one of India's most important trade partners, with bilateral trade totalling $142.6bn (£110.3bn) in 2018. The US had a $25.2bn goods and services trade deficit with India, its ninth largest trading partner in goods. |
| Despite growing political and strategic ties, there's been tension over trade issues. Mr Trump has said India's tariffs - taxes on imports - are "unacceptable", and has described India as the "king" of tariffs. | Despite growing political and strategic ties, there's been tension over trade issues. Mr Trump has said India's tariffs - taxes on imports - are "unacceptable", and has described India as the "king" of tariffs. |