Kudlow: ‘The president doesn’t make things up’

Top White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow on Tuesday denied that President Trump fabricated his claim that he was asked to mediate the decades-long dispute between India and Pakistan over the Kashmir territory.

“The president doesn’t make things up,” Kudlow said at the White House when asked if Trump made up the request, telling reporters “that’s a very rude question, in my opinion.”

{mosads}Kudlow declined to elaborate, saying it is a better question for Secretary of State Mike Pompeo or national security adviser John Bolton.

“While Kashmir is a bilateral issue for both parties to discuss, the Trump administration welcomes #Pakistan and #India sitting down and the United States stands ready to assist,” the State Department tweeted on Monday. 

While Kashmir is a bilateral issue for both parties to discuss, the Trump administration welcomes #Pakistan and #India sitting down and the United States stands ready to assist. – AGW

— State_SCA (@State_SCA) July 22, 2019

During a Monday meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, Trump said that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked him to broker an end to the violent border dispute. 

“I was with Prime Minister Modi two weeks ago, and we talked about this subject. And he actually said, ‘Would you like to be a mediator or arbitrator?’ I said, ‘Where?’  He said, ‘Kashmir,’ ” Trump said.

The Indian government pushed back against the claim, saying Monday that “no such request has been made by PM @narendramodi to US President.”