Trump talks business on second day of India visit

Yesterday, US President Donald Trump arrived in India and received a very special welcome: A large crowd of supporters.

But it wasn't just any large crowd -- it could be Trump's largest crowd ever.

Thanks to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the "Namaste Trump" rally was held in India's largest cricket stadium with a capacity of 110,000.

Rather than Trump's iconic red hat-wearing supporters back in the US, those in this audience wore white "Namaste Trump" hats. Before Trump walked out, the stadium played musical mainstays from Trump's rallies, including hits by Elton John and the Village People.

A massive throng, all wearing white caps, cheered eagerly as Trump praised Indian democracy, Modi and Bollywood (sometimes using haltingly pronounced Hindi nouns). The crowd appeared to thin somewhat as temperatures increased inside the stadium, but tens of thousands remained to hear the President speak.

Trump peppered his speech with applause lines, guaranteeing his crowd roared with approval when he named famous Indian cricketers or listed the titles of a few Bollywood films.

Spectacle will turn to substance today as US President Donald Trump sits for talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in India.

After a day lapping up attention from cheering crowds and taking in India's most famous sites, including the Taj Mahal, Trump will hope to lay the groundwork for longerterm deals on trade and other matters.

In the immediate term, Trump and Modi will likely reiterate their close bond and try to work toward some more modest agreements on defense and security.

Trade dispute: After the US applied stiff new tariffs, India retaliated by placing new duties on medical devices and farm products; the US then stripped India of special trade status meant for developing countries. It's unlikely that they will strike a grand trade deal on this trip, but some smaller initiatives may be announced.

Other issues on the table: US officials say Trump plans to confront Modi over troubling steps like a new law that denies Indian citizenship to Muslim refugees from nearby states.

And Trump's offer still stands to help mediate an ongoing dispute over Kashmir between India and Pakistan, though Modi has essentially rejected his overtures.

Evening banquet: After the formal talks, Trump will attend a state banquet at the ornate Rashtrapati Bhavan, the official presidential palace in New Delhi.