Modi to meet Musk at White House

The billionaire has toyed with the idea of launching a more affordable model of the all-electric Tesla car in India. But it’s not clear if he is still interested or would like to talk about something else

Washington: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to meet Elon Musk, the billionaire who has emerged as a close and trusted ally of US President Donald Trump, during his visit to the White House on Thursday. Prime Minister Modi is expected to meet other business leaders as well in his two-day visit but the expectation has been the highest about Musk.

The Indian leader arrived in Washington D.C. late Wednesday. His meeting at the White House is scheduled for later afternoon on Thursday. PM Modi and Musk have met several times and the Prime Minister toured the Tesla facility in San Jose during a visit in 2015 and he was given a personal tour by Musk.

Their upcoming meeting will be different. Musk has traversed a long way from 2015 when he was a supporter of the Democratic Party. He has emerged as a close ally and trusted adviser of President Trump and, in a concession from the President, he appeared in a joint news conference in the Oval Office on Tuesday with his son Xa and dominated the interaction demonstrating the clout accorded to him by the President.