Donald Trump and Narendra Modi are two very different leaders. Trump is aggressive and brash, while Modi is more reserved and diplomatic. Trump has a reputation for being a liar, while Modi is known for his honesty. Trump is disliked by many Americans, while Modi is popular in India. Despite their differences, the two men have some things in common. They both rose to power through populist campaigns, and they both have a disdain for the mainstream media. They also share a nationalist ideology that puts the interests of their countries first. Let’s take a closer look at some of the key differences between these two leaders.
Who is Trump?
- Donald Trump is the 45th President of the United States, having assumed office on January 20, 2017. Prior to entering politics, he was a businessman and television personality. Trump was born and raised in Queens, New York City, and received an economics degree from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
- He subsequently took charge of his family’s real estate business, The Trump Organization, and expanded it from Queens and Brooklyn into Manhattan. The company built or renovated skyscrapers, hotels, casinos, and golf courses. Trump later started various side ventures, mostly by licensing his name. He managed the company until his 2017 inauguration.
- He co-authored several books, including The Art of the Deal. He owned the Miss Universe and Miss USA beauty pageants from 1996 to 2015, and he produced and hosted The Apprentice, a reality television show, from 2003 to 2015. As of 2018, Forbes estimated his net worth to be $3.1 billion. Trump ran for president in 2016 as a Republican and defeated Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in the general election. He became the oldest first-term U.S. president when he took office at age 70.
Who is Modi?
- Narendra Modi is the Prime Minister of India, having assumed office on 26th May 2014. He is also the chairman of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is the ruling party in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government. Mr. Modi was born on 17th September 1950 in Vadnagar, Mehsana district, Gujarat. His father was a street merchant who sold tea at the local railway station.
- As a child, Modi helped his father with his business and later ran his own tea stall near a bus terminal. After finishing high school, he left home for Delhi to seek opportunities. However, he eventually returned home and became involved in politics through the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). In 2001, he was elected as the Chief Minister of Gujarat and went on to serve three consecutive terms.
- In 2012, he was declared lakhs voted for him in the elections and he was sworn in as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Gujarat for a fourth time. On 26th May 2016 – after leading his party to a landslide victory in the Lok Sabha elections – Mr. Modi took oath as India’s Prime Minister for a second time.
Difference between Trump and Modi
Though they are both populist leaders, there are several key ways in which Donald Trump and Narendra Modi differ.
- For one, Trump is a polarizing figure who ran on a platform of division, while Modi is generally more popular and is known for his ability to build consensus.
- Additionally, Trump is isolationist in his approach to foreign policy, while Modi is very much focused on engaging with other countries. One area where the two men do share some similarities is in their economic policies.
- Both Trump and Modi have made boosting economic growth a key priority, and have implemented policies that are intended to promote investment and job creation.
However, they have taken very different approaches, with Trump cutting taxes and regulations while Modi has implemented more nationalist policies. Overall, though they share some similarities, there are many ways in which Donald Trump and Narendra Modi differ.
Conclusion
The two leaders could not be more different. Modi is a self-made man who came from very humble beginnings. He is known for his work ethic and his focus on development programs that help the poorest in India. Trump, on the other hand, was born into privilege and has spent his life leveraging connections and wealth to get ahead. His only real claim to fame is being a successful businessman (although many of his businesses have failed). Modi is highly respected within India and around the world; Trump is widely unpopular both in the US and abroad.
