�[EXTERNAL] VP pool report #4 4/22: Speech

Vice President Vance took the stage at the Rajasthan International Center at 3:17 p.m., for a speech his office said would be focused on “economic priorities.”

The auditorium here seats around 500, pool was told. From the pool’s vantage point, it does not appear the balcony is full. There are people from a wide range of ages here, including a large school group in uniforms. Vance also welcomed business leaders who are here. There are reportedly also a number of local graduate students in attendance.

Your pooler spoke with a woman from New Delhi who is here on behalf of her company, who said she did not sleep last night because she was so excited to see Vance speak in person, something she described as a “once in a lifetime opportunity.” She did not have strong feelings about the Trump administration, but said she wants to believe they have the best intentions with their policies.

Usha Vance is seated in the front row. Check quotes against audio — Otter link below.

“She’s a bit of a celebrity, it turns out, in India, I think more so than her husband,” he said.

So far, the VP’s speech has extolled India’s focus on ensuring jobs for their citizens stay in their country. He is defending and praising the Trump tariff plan.

“We want to build relationships with our foreign partners who respect their worked while don’t suppress their wages to boost exports, but respect the value of their labor.”

“There’s a pride in being Indian, a feeling of excitement about the days that lie ahead now, it's a striking contrast with too many in the West, where some in our leadership class seem stricken by self doubt and even fear of the future. To them, humanity is always one bad decision away from catastrophe, the world will soon end.”

He said he is here as a partner looking to strengthen the relationship between the two nations, and condemned “prior administrations” in Washington of being condescending to Modi and India. He said America wants to “build a bright new world” with India, “one that’s constantly innovating, one that’s helping people to form families, making it easier to build, invest and trade together in pursuit of common goals.”

Vance received applause when he said the two countries have finalized their terms of reference for a trade deal — something that his office announced yesterday.

Dropping Otter link here for the rest:

https://otter.ai/u/aqaCuEbEH9AtcQmmNehqfVtgBIc

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Natalie Allison

White House Reporter

The Washington Post

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