VIDEO: Sen. Cruz Welcomes Indian Prime Minister Modi to Texas

HOUSTON, Texas - U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) today joined local leaders, members of Congress, and President Donald Trump in welcoming Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Texas - home to one of the fastest growing Indian-American communities in the U.S. with a population of more than 500,000 - to honor the relationship between the U.S. and India - the two largest democracies in the world.

At the historic event today, "Howdy, Modi!," which was broadcast to 300 million people worldwide, Sen. Cruz addressed the prime minister, the president, and the millions of people watching in Texas and around the globe. There, he said:

"To Prime Minister Modi, to President Trump, to representatives across the United States, across India, across the world, welcome to Texas. Today is a celebration. It's a celebration of the friendship between America and India - a strong, resolute, and growing friendship. Our nations have interests that are intertwined. We share a history. We share cultures. We share language. We share values. India is the largest democracy on the face of the earth, and America is proud to be your friend.

"Today is also a celebration of the incredible Indian-American community here in the United States and especially here in the great state of Texas. We have over 500,000 Indian-Americans who call Texas home. And the Indian-American community here in Houston, in Texas, and across America is wonderfully diverse, is vibrant, believes in small business, in opportunity, believes in freedom. And through all of Texas and all of America, we say thank you for the incredible contributions of the Indian-American community.

"As a lifelong Houstonian, it is particularly meaningful to me and to many here that Mr. Modi chose to come to Houston, Texas, the most diverse big city in America and the most entrepreneurial city in America. And I look forward to decades and centuries of closer economic and military and diplomatic ties of friendship between Texas and India, between America and India. We are friends, and today is celebrating that friendship."

Watch Sen. Cruz's remarks here.

Read Sen. Cruz's op-ed in the Houston Chronicle welcoming Prime Minister Modi here.

###