Indian Government Denies Elon Musk's Involvement in Modi-Trump Call

Ministry of External Affairs Responds to Report

On Saturday, the Ministry of External Affairs officially dismissed a report claiming that billionaire Elon Musk participated in a phone conversation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.S. President Donald Trump. This clarification followed a report from a major news outlet.

The ministry spokesperson stated, “We have reviewed the report. The call on March 24 was solely between Prime Minister Modi and President Trump.”

The discussion allowed both leaders to share their perspectives on the current situation in West Asia, according to the ministry.

Earlier, the news outlet had cited two unnamed U.S. officials, indicating uncertainty regarding Musk's involvement and whether he had spoken during the call. The report characterized Musk's alleged presence as an unusual occurrence for a private citizen during a critical diplomatic exchange.

Musk is not currently affiliated with the Trump administration.

In May, he resigned from his role as a special government employee in the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency, a position he held under the Trump administration. This advisory group was established by an executive order from Trump on his first day in office in January 2025, aimed at enhancing federal technology and efficiency.

Despite their past collaboration, Musk and Trump have publicly clashed in recent months.

According to reports, Musk's companies have investments in West Asian nations. His electric vehicle company, Tesla, began selling cars in India in July, and his satellite internet service, Starlink, has received approval to operate in the country. Musk is also the owner of the social media platform X.

As of now, Musk has not issued any comments regarding the news report.

When asked about the report, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt remarked that Trump maintains a strong relationship with Modi, describing the conversation as productive.

On Tuesday, both New Delhi and Washington confirmed the phone call between Modi and Trump but did not mention Musk's alleged involvement.

Congress Raises Concerns Over Report

Claims pose ‘serious questions’, says Congress

The Congress party expressed concerns on Saturday regarding the report from the news outlet, stating that it raises 'serious questions' and that the public deserves clear answers.

The opposition party questioned the rationale behind a business figure's presence during a discussion between two national leaders about a global crisis and sought clarification on Musk's role in the conversation.

“Was this truly about the West Asia crisis, or was there another ‘business’ agenda?” the Congress party queried on social media before the ministry's response. They also asked why the Modi government did not disclose Musk's presence and why this information came from a foreign source rather than the Indian government.

They noted that while Trump has spoken with leaders from various countries during the conflict, no other businessman was included in those discussions. They questioned why this was an exception with Modi. The White House characterized the talks as productive, but the Congress party asked, 'Productive for whom?'

The Congress party accused Modi of merely following Trump's directives, suggesting he is more of a manager than a leader.

On Tuesday, Modi stated that he and Trump had a 'useful exchange of views' regarding the West Asia situation.

“India supports de-escalation and the swift restoration of peace,” Modi stated on social media. “It is crucial for the world that the Strait of Hormuz remains open, secure, and accessible. We agreed to maintain communication regarding efforts for peace and stability.”