In a political world that increasingly resembles&nbsp;a global classroom, Donald Trump seems to have found a seat right next to Narendra Modi&mdash;and he&rsquo;s peeking at Modi&rsquo;s notes. From renaming roads to claiming divine endorsement, these two leaders share more than just a flair for theatrics. They appear to be drawing from a remarkably similar handbook on how to make nations great again (and again).
Chapter 1: The Name Game
When it comes to changing names, both Trump and Modi could pen a bestseller titled Rebrand and Conquer. Modi&rsquo;s penchant for renaming cities and roads has been a cornerstone of his cultural reclamation project. In recent years, the historic city of Allahabad became Prayagraj, and Delhi&rsquo;s Aurangzeb Road transformed into Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Road&mdash;a metaphorical sweep of history under the rug, with a hint of saffron polish.
Trump, while less active in literal street renaming, has been just as eager to rebrand concepts, institutions, and even natural landmarks. Not content with his usual battle cries about &ldquo;fake news&rdquo;&nbsp;and &ldquo;anchor babies,&rdquo;&nbsp;Trump signed an executive order renaming Denali back to Mount McKinley, the peak that had previously been stripped of its original name in a bid for indigenous cultural recognition. But why stop there? The Gulf of Mexico is now officially the Gulf of America, because what&rsquo;s a national treasure if it&rsquo;s not named after your own country? And who could forget his recent move to &ldquo;cancel&rdquo;&nbsp;birthright citizenship for babies born to non-citizens&mdash;an executive decision sure to inspire a rebranding of what it means to be &ldquo;American&rdquo;.
Chapter 2: Divine Intervention
If ever there was a chapter on providential purpose, both men would surely highlight their personal hotline to the heavens. Modi, ever the modest sage, once declared himself a &ldquo;non-biological entity&rdquo;&nbsp;born to serve India&rsquo;s greatness. A mission from the cosmos, if you will. Not to be outdone, Trump, who has weathered impeachments, indictments, insurrections, and an alleged assassination attempt informed his followers that God personally saved him to make America great again.
While some might dismiss these divine declarations as hyperbolic rhetoric, they undeniably play into the carefully crafted personas of men destined&mdash;in their own eyes&mdash;to reshape history. After all, who needs term limits when you&rsquo;ve got eternal purpose on your side?
Chapter 3: Nationalism with a Twist
Both leaders have mastered the delicate art of balancing populism with strongman charisma. Modi&rsquo;s vision of Hindutva nationalism and Trump&rsquo;s America First doctrine share a common thread: a promise to restore lost glory while conveniently blaming past leadership for societal ills. Borders, walls, and cultural purity become symbols of strength. History becomes a canvas for selective memory.
In fact, both leaders have a signature slogan that promises a new era of prosperity and glory, though the specifics are often left vague. Modi&rsquo;s Acche Din&nbsp;(Good Days) resonated deeply with India&rsquo;s electorate, promising an idealized future of economic growth, national pride, and social welfare. But like Trump&rsquo;s Make America Great Again&nbsp;(MAGA), Acche Din&nbsp;has become something of an aspirational mantra, with little more than the vague scent of nostalgia and the illusion of progress. Both slogans serve as a rallying cry for disaffected populations yearning for something better, but the gap between promise and delivery is often too wide to bridge.
Chapter 4: Scriptwriters for the World?
One has to wonder: Have both leaders hired the same scriptwriter, or is there just one think tank working for two of the world&rsquo;s most powerful nations? The similarities between Modi and Trump&rsquo;s public personas and political moves seem too striking to be mere coincidence. Consider Modi&rsquo;s humble origins, often reminding the Indian public that he&rsquo;s &ldquo;chaiwala ke beta&rdquo; (the son of a tea vendor), a narrative designed to resonate with the masses. Similarly, Trump, with his marketing genius, once proudly declared his roots as the owner of a McDonald&rsquo;s franchise. It&rsquo;s as if both leaders are following the same blueprint for political success&mdash;appeal to the everyman, leverage underdog status, and then rise to the top with a touch of bravado.
Epilogue: A Bromance of Ideas
It&rsquo;s worth noting the camaraderie between the two leaders. Modi famously embraced Trump at the Howdy Modi&nbsp;event in Texas, where chants of &ldquo;Ab ki baar, Trump sarkar,&rdquo;&nbsp;filled the air. The mutual admiration society continued during Trump's India visit, where the pageantry of political theater hit peak spectacle.
While Trump may not explicitly credit Modi as his muse, the parallels are hard to ignore. Renaming, divine-right rhetoric, and nationalist revival are tried-and-true tools that cross borders faster than a viral tweet. Perhaps it&rsquo;s time to acknowledge the global exchange of political tricks&mdash;after all, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

PM Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump

Renaming, destiny, and divine missions: Trump echoes Modi’s style in nationalist flair

Is Trump Taking Notes from Modi’s Playbook?

Renaming, destiny, and divine missions: Trump echoes Modi’s style in nationalist flair

January 22, 2025 | 17:15 IST