Trump mixes up India with Pakistan, hails Modi while baffling reporters with trademark gaffes

Social media was quick to spot another of his signature verbal blunders, as he appeared to confuse India with its restless neighbour, Pakistan, known for its dizzying turnover of leaders over 77 years.

During a Wednesday press interaction at the White House, Trump suddenly claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assured him India would stop buying Russian oil.

He also praised Modi as a “great man” and “time-tested leader” before veering into his unusual commentary.

“Modi is a great man. He loves Trump,” said the 79-year-old, adding hastily, “I don't want you to take the word love any differently. I don't want to destroy his political career.”

Then came the gaffe that caught everyone’s attention.

Trump appeared to lament political instability in “India”: “I have watched India for years. It's an incredible country and every single year you would have a new leader. Some would be in there for a few months and this was year after year after year. My friend has been there now for a long time,” he said.

Trumps gets facts wrong, again

The problem? India hasn’t changed prime ministers since 2014, and before that, Manmohan Singh served for a full decade. Pakistan, however, fits Trump’s description perfectly.

Since 1947, Pakistan has had 29 prime ministers, none of whom completed a full term. In 1993 alone, the country saw five leaders sworn in within 12 months.

Many were removed via corruption charges, military coups, forced resignations, or no-confidence motions, like with Imran Khan; one was even assassinated.

Pakistan’s first prime minister, Liaquat Ali Khan, served the longest at four years and two months, while the shortest tenure was two weeks (Noorul Amin, 1971). The current prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, has been in office since 2024.

Questions over mental acuity

Trump, 79, has long faced scrutiny over his mental sharpness, having repeatedly mixed up global leaders and countries.

On Wednesday, he also confused India with Iran while claiming tariffs had prevented a potential nuclear war between India and Pakistan.

“If you look at Pakistan and Iran... I told them I was negotiating a trade deal with Iran, and Pakistan was going to be in line... Then I heard they were shooting at each other, and I said, 'Are you guys going to go to war? Two nuclear powers we are thinking about,’” he claimed. Trump went on to say he threatened a “200% tariff” and banned them from trading with the US if hostilities continued. “Within 24 hours, the war ended. That would have been a nuclear war,” he added.

Previously, Trump confused Armenia with Albania while discussing a peace deal he brokered between Armenia and Azerbaijan earlier this year.

These gaffes have repeatedly sparked jokes among world leaders, including at a recent summit in Copenhagen.

Psychologist Dr John Gartner recently raised concerns over a decline in Trump’s motor skills, suggesting possible early dementia, though the White House insists the president shows no memory issues.