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The External Affairs Minister is representing PM Modi as his special envoy at Trump’s inauguration.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is in Washington to attend the inauguration ceremony of US President Donald Trump. (IMAGE: REUTERS/NEWS18)
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar attended on Monday a prayer service ahead of the inauguration of US President Donald Trump at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Washington.
“Privileged to represent India as External Affairs Minister and Special Envoy of PM at the Swearing-In Ceremony of the 47th President of the United States of America today in Washington DC. Attended the Inauguration Day Prayer Service at St John’s Church this morning,” Jaishankar said in a post on X, where he shared photos from the St. John’s Episcopal Church.
He is also carrying a letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi for US President Donald Trump, according to a report by news agency PTI.
Jaishankar is representing PM Modi as his special envoy at President Trump’s inaugural function.
Trump is taking charge as the 47th President of the US.
The external affairs minister’s presence at the presidential inauguration is in line with India’s general practice to send special envoys to attend the swearing-in ceremony of heads of state and government, the sources said.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh attended the swearing-in ceremony of the president of Nigeria in May 2023 while then Minister of Earth Sciences Kiren Rijiju attended the swearing-in ceremony of Maldivian president in November 2023, the sources said citing past precedents.
Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari attended the swearing-in ceremony of the Iranian president in July last year and MoS for external affairs Pabitra Margherita attended the oath taking ceremony of president of Indonesia and president of Mexico in October 2024, the sources said.
In June 2022, the then MoS for external affairs Raj Kumar Ranjan Singh attended the swearing-in ceremony of the president of Philippines, they added.
