Updated Feb 25, 2020 - World

In photos: Trump pays tribute to Gandhi before formal talks in India

President Trump reviews a guard of honour during a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan

President Trump reviews a guard of honour during a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan palace in New Delhi on Tuesday. Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

President Trump's second and final day of his India visit struck a more formal tone than the pageantry of a day earlier that included a trip to the Taj Mahal and a mega-rally in his honor. But he took time out Tuesday to pay tribute to Indian independence icon Mahatma Gandhi at a memorial in New Delhi.

Why it matters: The countries are forging deeper ties as India’s location, size and economic growth make it the "obvious counterweight to China" for American policymakers.

  • Trump told the rally crowd in Ahmedabad he hoped to reach a trade deal with his "true friend" Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his first official visit to the country, and he was taking part in formal meetings with officials on Tuesday.

Of concern: There were deadly clashes in another part of Delhi over India's controversial citizenship law hours hours as Trump and members of his first family visited the city.

 President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump lay a wreath to pay their tribute at Raj Ghat,
The president and first lady Melania Trump lay a wreath at Raj Ghat, the memorial for Indian independence icon Mahatma Gandhi, in New Delhi. Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump spray rose petals to pay tribute at Raj Ghat, the memorial for Indian independence icon Mahatma Gandhi, in New Delhi on February 25
The Trumps pay tribute at Raj Ghat. Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images
 US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump plant a tree as they pay tribute at Raj Ghat, the memorial for Indian independence icon Mahatma Gandhi, in New Delhi on February 25
The Trumps plant a tree tribute at Raj Ghat. Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images
President Trump and first lady Melania Trump at the Taj Mahal.
President Trump and first lady Melania Trump at the Taj Mahal on Monday. Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images
White House senior advisors Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner (C) attend 'Namaste Trump' rally
The president's elder daughter, Ivanka Trump, and son-in-law Jared Kushner, both White House senior advisers, at the "Namaste Trump" rally on Monday at a packed 110,000-capacity Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad — the world's largest cricket venue. Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images
Trump (C), First Lady Melania Trump (R) and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrive to attend 'Namaste Trump' rally at Sardar Patel Stadium in Motera, on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, on February 24
Modi and the Trumps during the rally on the president's first official visit to the country. Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images
People gather beside a street as a motorcade transporting US President Donald Trump makes its way in Ahmedabad on February 24
People gather in a street as a motorcade transporting Trump travels through Ahmedabad. Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images
 A cutout of US President Donald Trump is seen as people wait beside a street to catch a glimpse of his motorcade in Ahmedabad on February 24
A cutout of Trump in a street as people wait to catch a glimpse of the president's motorcade in Ahmedabad. Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images
Indian school children wearing masks of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump pose for a picture at Bright Academy school in Siliguri
School children wearing masks of Modi and Trump in Siliguri, northeast India. Photo: Diptendu Dutta/AFP via Getty Images
 Trump (C) kisses White House senior advisor Ivanka Trump as India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi (R) looks
Ivanka Trump and Kushner with the president and Modi at the airport. Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images
 President Donald Trump (R) holds a string while checking a charkha, or spinning wheel,  at the Gandhi Ashram in Ahmedabad on February 24
Trump holds a string while checking a charkha, or spinning wheel, at the Gandhi Ashram in Ahmedabad. Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi (R) greets US President Donald Trump (C) and First Lady Melania Trump (2L) upon their arrival
Melania Trump with the president and Modi at the airport. Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images
Modi greets Trump upon his arrival at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad
Trump and Modi at the airport. Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images
Iniyan, 49, gives final touches to a idili, savoury rice cake, decorated in the shapes of US President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi
An idili, or savory rice cake, decorated in the images of Modi and Trump. Photo: Arun Sankar/AFP via Getty Images
A student paints on a canva faces of US President Donald Trump (L) and his wife Melania, in the street in Mumbai on February 21
A student paints the images of the president and Melania Trump on a canvas in Mumbai. Photo: Indranil Mukherjee/AFP via Getty Images
Members of Muslim community protest Trump's visit and against the Israeli government at a mosque in Lucknow, northern India.
People protest Trump's visit and the Israeli government at a mosque in Lucknow, northern India. Photo: Dheeraj Dhawan/Hindustan Times via Getty Images
 Indian police officers stand guard in the premises of the Taj Mahal on February 23, 2020 in Agra, India.
Police officers stand guard as security is stepped up at the Taj Mahal ahead of Trump's visit there. Photo: Yawar Nazir/ Getty Images
A billboard displaying India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi (L) and US President Donald Trump shaking hands outside Taj Mahal
A billboard of Modi and Trump shaking hands outside the Taj Mahal. Photo: Yawar Nazir/Getty Images
Workers clean a bulletproof glass-enclosure around the podium before 'Namaste Trump Rally'
Workers clean a bulletproof glass enclosure around the podium before the rally. Photo: Money Sharma/AFP via Getty Images
Para-military soldiers from the Rapid Action Force walk past billboards with the images of Trump and Modi, outside the Sardar Patel Stadium, in Motera
Paramilitary soldiers from the Rapid Action Force outside the stadium. Photo: Sam Panthaky/AFP via Getty Images
People wait for the arrival of US President Donald Trump and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a rally at Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad, on February 24
Crowds at the "Namaste Trump" rally. Photo: Money Sharma/AFP via Getty Images

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Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.

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