Shashi Tharoor on Trump's return: 'He's a very transactional leader... No surprises expected'

NEW DELHI: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has shared his views on a potential Donald Trump victory as results for the 2024 US presidential election roll in. He cited expectations based on Trump's previous presidency and said, “It seems as if he (Donald Trump) is coming back. I think the official declaration is imminent." Noting Trump’s "transactional" style and prior diplomatic interactions, Tharoor added, "The truth is that we've had experience of Mr Trump as president for four years already, so there shouldn't be too many surprises."

Tharoor, who chairs the Parliament Standing Committee on External Affairs, highlighted Trump’s past stance on trade, his supportive relationship with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and his firm approach toward China. "Given our own troubles with China, his tough stance is not bad for us," Tharoor said. However, on Canada-India relations, Tharoor noted that Trump had not previously expressed specific concerns, adding, “I don't see Trump taking a personal interest very much in that particular issue… this is all speculation.”

#WATCH | Delhi: On #USElections2024 results, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor says, "It seems as if he (Donald Trump) is coming back. I think the official declaration is imminent...The truth is that we've had experience of Mr Trump as president for four years already, so there… pic.twitter.com/SQHEG6VPFc

— ANI (@ANI) November 6, 2024

Indian National Congress congratulates Donald Trump on election victory

The Indian National Congress (INC) has congratulated President Donald Trump on his election victory, extending its best wishes for his continued leadership.

In a statement, the party president Mallikarjun Kharge expressed that India and the United States share a "robust comprehensive global strategic partnership," which is rooted in shared democratic values, aligned interests, and extensive people-to-people connections. The INC emphasized the importance of these long-standing ties between the two nations, highlighting the collaborative potential in the years ahead.

"We look forward to working closely with the United States for global peace and prosperity," Kharge wrote on X, signaling the Congress party’s commitment to strengthening diplomatic and strategic relations with the US under Trump’s leadership.

Earlier, Tharoor characterized the election as "very close," with results shifting as urban areas report their votes. Speaking to ANI, he explained, "The way they count in America... starts off with the less populated rural areas," which tend to favor Trump, while urban areas, usually Democratic strongholds, could alter the trend as they report. Referring to updates by the Associated Press, Tharoor noted, “The AP... had Trump in a very big lead... now showing electoral college votes at 220-205. Very tight."

Tharoor also recalled challenges from the 2020 election, where Trump contested results in multiple states. "There may be challenges as we saw in 2020... Trump was challenging in 3-4 states," he observed, urging patience for final results.

With projections indicating Trump’s potential return, the tight race has seen him win battleground states such as North Carolina and Georgia, while Vice President Kamala Harris aims to make history as the first female U.S. president.

Regarding India’s strained relations with Canada over Khalistani extremism, Tharoor emphasized diplomatic engagement. He suggested that the Indian government keep all parties involved in discussions, highlighting the importance of addressing issues that “transcend politics.” Alongside Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, Tharoor attended a briefing on the India-Canada row, underscoring India's ongoing concerns over extremism in Canada.