After weeks of preparation, crores of expenditure, and endless speculations, POTUS Donald Trump has finally landed in India and from the looks of his Twitter feed, the President seems as psyched for his visit as the rest of the Twitterati.
While the POTUS took the opportunity of posting a Hindi tweet hours before his aircraft landed in India, it was only yesterday that he shared a meme with his face morphed on a video from Bahubali:
“I look forward to being with the people of India, we will be with millions and millions of people. I get along very well with the prime minister; he is a friend of mine. The prime minister told me this will be the biggest event they have ever had,” Trump was reported saying in a press statement prior to his departure for India.
Amidst all the anticipations and the subsequent Twitter frenzy, here are some facts that you should be aware of Donald Trump’s visit to India:
The Namaste Trump event
Being interpreted as India’s grand reply to last year’s ‘Howdy Modi’, the ‘Namaste Trump’ event is anticipated to be one of the largest that India has seen to date. President Trump is addressing a mammoth gathering at the Gandhi’s Sabarmati Ashram today. It would be followed by his visit to the newly constructed Motera cricket stadium (claimed to be the largest in the world) that is all set to be inaugurated for the day. The President and his entourage would be passing through a mega-rally along a 14-kilometer long newly paved road to make it to the stadium. The stretch has been lined with billboards featuring Trump, his wife Melanie, and Prime Minister Modi.
Watch Live Updates From Namaste Trump
Traffic Advisory
As per an advisory generated by Delhi Traffic Police, traffic is likely to remain relatively heavy in areas of Moti Bagh, Chanakyapuri, Indian Gate, ITO, Delhi Gate, and areas around Central and New Delhi from forenoon till around 4 pm today.
The Infamous Wall
As part of preparations for Trump’s two-day visit in India, a half-kilometer wall has been erected by Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) at the stretch form Gandhinagar to Ahmedabad. It is learned that the wall serves the very specific purpose of hiding the 500 slum houses at the Dev Saran or Saraniyavaas slum area. Given the irony embedded in Trump’s obsession with the “wall” combined with this blatant attempt to put up a facade on India’s end, the wall clearly has been rousing the Indian Twitteratti.
The Controversial Taj Mahal Visit
Right after the mega-rally, arrangements have been made for Trump to visit the Taj Mahal. To avoid any ‘monkey business’, primate species that live in and around the monument and are known to harass visitors, Have been relocated. You’d be surprised to know that it is for the very first time in 300 years that the replicas of Shah Jahan and his wife Mumtaz Mahal’s graves would be cleaned and undergo maintenance since their installation, especially for the POTUS’s visit to India.
The Multi-Layer Security Cover
The POTUS along with wife Melanie would be staying in Delhi’s ITC Maurya hotel, which has been converted into a fortress for the duration of his visit. While arrangements have been made for President Trump to stay at the Chanakya suite, the entire property has been booked for two days. Forget layman, the entire floor where Trump is staying has been made inaccessible for most of the hotel’s employees as well. A three-tier security setup consisting of NSG commandos, Delhi Police personnel, and US Secret Service has been put in place owing to the spiraling friction between Iran and the US.
The Grand Gujarati Menu
A big fat Gujarati meal is being prepared by Chef Suresh Khanna of Fortune Landmark Hotel for Trump’s first day in Ahmedabad. An all-vegetarian fare would be awaiting the President upon his arrival at Sabarmati Ashram.
“We received the information a day before to prepare high tea for honourable President and we are very excited. There will be Fortune cookies, Gujarati delicacy nylon khaman, then my specialist broccoli and corn samosa and then the cinnamon apple pie and kaju katli for dessert,” Chef Khanna said in a media statement.
Given his love for hamburgers and steaks, the beef-free Indian menu might pose a serious challenge to the President’s palette. Just all things Trump right now, this too has seen some serious buzz on Twitter right now:
With great pomp but no substantial agenda at hand, it would be rather interesting to watch how President Trump’s two-day visit unfolds in India. Rest assured, expect the Indian Twitterati to have a gala time as they get immersed passionately into the Trump discourse. #NamasteTrump or #GoBackTrump, which side are you on?
Featured Image: Instagram
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