India invites Donald Trump for 2019 Republic Day; no response from White House yet

India has reportedly invited US President Donald trump to be the chief guest at the Republic Day 2019. The White House was yet to response to the formal pre-invite sent by New Delhi to find out the possibilities of Trump to visit India in January for Republic Day celebrations.

The invite to Trump came four years after Modi pulled off a diplomatic coup by bringing the then US president Barack Obama to be the chief guest at the 2015 Republic Day and a year after PM Modi invited the present US president during his visit to White House in 2017, according to news agency PTI.

"I would like to invite you to India, along with your family. And I hope that you will give me the opportunity to welcome you and host you in India," Modi had said during a joint briefing with Trump during his 2017 visit.

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However, the Ministry of External Affairs was yet to comment on the reports of India’s pre-invite to Trump to be the chief guest.

If the White House says yes to India’s pre-invite, Trump would be the second US president after Obama to be the chief guest at India hugely symbolic parade on Republic Day.