A special gesture by @POTUS, signifying the special friendship between India and USA! Delighted that President… https://t.co/OgBxV6fOu4 — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) 1568607144000

The special gesture of President @realDonaldTrump to join us in Houston highlights the strength of the relationship… https://t.co/3yOBK6NlVQ — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) 1568607310000

WASHINGTON: The White House has formally confirmed that US President Donald Trump will participate in the “Howdy, Modi” rally in Houston, Texas, on September 22 leading up to the Indian Prime Minister’s visit to the US next week. The joint appearance at such a large rally will be unprecedented in the annals of US-India relations, and indeed in the chronicles of US ties with any country.“The event, 'Howdy, Modi! Shared Dreams, Bright Futures,' is expected to draw tens of thousands of people. It will be a great opportunity to emphasize the strong ties between the people of the United States and India, to reaffirm the strategic partnership between the world’s oldest and largest democracies, and to discuss ways to deepen their energy and trade relationship,” the White House said in an announcement affirming Trump’s decision to attend the event.The possibility of Trump attending the rally was first reported in The Wire.Following the “Howdy, Modi” rally in Texas, Trump will travel to Wapakoneta, Ohio, where he will be joined by Prime Minister Scott Morrison of Australia for a tour of a new, Australian-owned manufacturing facility. Trump’s presence at the two events is aimed at underscoring important partnerships between the United States and India, and Australia, the White House statement added.The Houston rally, the third such event by Prime Minister Modi in the US after breakthrough public meetings in New York at the Madison Square Gardens in 2014 and in Silicon Valley in 2017, is expected surpass anything hosted for or by a foreign leader on American soil. Organisers of the event, to be held at the 50,000-capacity NRG Stadium, say it is already sold out.In fact, it is hard to recall an instance of such a large political rally in America, not even for President Trump or his predecessor Barack Obama at the peak of their popularity. Crowds of this size are only seen at major sporting events such as the Superbowl.Texas India Forum, a platform of 650 Texas-based organization that is hosting the event, said over 50,000 attendees have registered in three weeks for the sold-out event though online registration. Houston is the fourth largest city in the US, and along with surrounding areas and nearby cities, there is an Indian-origin population of more than 150,000. Texas itself is estimated to have more than 250,000 Indian-Americans. Many enthusiastic Modi supporters are expected to fly in or drive in from different parts of the country.Given the scale and scope of the event, it was inevitable that President Trump would take note or/and turn up, given his propensity to constantly talk about the size of the crowd at his rallies. But beyond his fondness for crowds and spectacle, the decision to attend the rally also has three elements to it.The primary purpose, as underscored by the White House, is to showcase the close ties between the two countries, a significant signal given tensions in the region.But there are also domestic reasons for Trump to turn up a rally where Modi will be the rock star. Aside from being America’s fourth largest city, Houston is also its energy capital. And India is a large energy guzzler that is already buying significant amounts of oil and gas from the US, a supply that is expected to go even further up given the kind of disruption in the Gulf.The Indian side was exultant at Trump decision to join the rally, although there was wariness about being associated with any one party, and there was emphasis on the bipartisan support India get in the US. In fact, many Democrat legislators are expected to be among the nearly 60 lawmakers who are expected to attend the rally, many of them conscious of the financial and academic clout Indian Americans have in the US., disproportionate to their overall numbers.Indian officials said House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, the second-ranking member of the Democratic Leadership, is also going to address the ‘ Howdy Modi ’ event, “reflecting the strong bipartisan support India-US relations enjoy.”A third reason for Trump’s decision to attend has to do with domestic politics. Texas could be up for grabs in the 2020 elections and every vote counts, including the more than 250,000 Indian-American votes in a state which has the second highest electoral college votes (38). Although the Lone Star state has been consistently Republican red since 1976 (Jimmy Carter was the last Democrat to win the state), it is said to be turning purple, and Democrats harbor hopes of an upset.“The two leaders (Trump and Modi) addressing the ‘Howdy Modi’ event is historic and unprecedented. It reflects not only the closeness and comfort levels in the relationship but also the personal chemistry and friendship between Prime Minister Modi and President Trump,” India’s ambassador to the US., Harsh Shringla said of the bumper political-diplomatic event.It will also be the first time that the US President and Indian Prime Minister will have met outside the capital Washington DC or New York in the US. “It is a huge endorsement for the efforts and success of the 3m strong Indian American diaspora and their contribution in all walks of life,” Shringla added, pointing out that attendance from both sides of the aisle “reflects the strong bipartisan support India-US relations enjoy.”