United States Ambassador to India Sergio Gor offered candid and humorous observations on Indian television news during an address at the Economic Times World Leaders Forum, describing prime-time debates as increasingly chaotic later in the evening and also noting that some reporting falls well short of accuracy.
Mr. Gor, who also serves as Special Envoy for South and Central Asia, said he enjoys watching Indian news shows after returning home. ‘I love getting home in the evening and putting on the Indian shows in the evening, and the later it gets, the crazier the shows become,’ he remarked.
He elaborated that a typical 6 PM program might feature eight people arguing, but by 10 PM, the panel often expands to around a dozen participants all speaking simultaneously, making it impossible to hear any individual clearly. ‘They must train, because it’s unbelievable that nobody gets interrupted; they just keep going no matter what,’ he added.
The Ambassador went further on the quality of some coverage. He noted that he previously believed the United States faced a significant ‘fake news’ challenge, but ‘some of the things that get reported here are just nowhere close to the mark.’
These comments, delivered over the weekend and widely reported on Monday, sparked discussion online, with some observers linking them to the high-decibel style of Indian prime-time television and specific anchors, while others treated them as light-hearted observations from a foreign diplomat.
Ambassador Gor also shared an anecdote from the June 2026 G7 summit in France involving Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump. He recounted that the Indian Ministry of External Affairs had requested media presence without a full press conference or questions after the leaders’ opening remarks. Mr. Gor said he conveyed this preference to President Trump, who agreed.
Once the initial statements concluded, however, Trump invited questions from the assembled reporters, estimated at around 50 cameras, turning the interaction into an extended session lasting about 45 minutes.
Indian government sources later described such discussions on media arrangements as standard practice for high-level visits. Beyond media, the US Ambassador addressed several other matters. He warned that individuals who publicly use slogans such as ‘Death to America’ should not expect smooth processing of US visa applications, emphasizing heightened scrutiny. ‘The days of you tweeting ‘Death to America’ and then showing up asking for a US visa are over,’ he stated, adding that India applies similar rigorous questioning in its own visa process.
He also clarified that a proposed 100% tariff measure related to India was not being pushed by the White House or President Trump.
On strategic cooperation, Mr. Gor highlighted potential collaboration in space, noting NASA’s invitation for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to join missions aimed at returning to the Moon, and expressing confidence in India’s capabilities.
He has previously underscored the durability of India-US ties, rooted in shared interests across technology, defense, trade, and energy, and the personal rapport between Mr. Modi and Mr. Trump.
In a separate recent development, during his first visit to Srinagar on August 19, Gor described Jammu and Kashmir as ‘an important part of India,’ praised security improvements, and indicated the US was reviewing its travel advisory for the region. The remarks drew a formal protest from Pakistan.
Mr. Gor, a close Trump associate confirmed as ambassador in late 2025 and who assumed duties in early 2026, has been active in advancing trade discussions and broader partnership goals, including efforts toward higher bilateral trade volumes.