From Trump to Sheikh Zayed: the great and the good at the Taj Mahal

For decades, the domed monument to love has been the backdrop to holiday snaps for presidents, prime ministers, film stars and millions of tourists every year when they visit India

Powered by automated translation

No state visit to India could seemingly ever be complete without a trip to the Taj Mahal.

Agra's towering, domed, monument to love has served as the background to countless famous snaps from Sheikh Zayed in 1975 to Princess Diana in 1992 to Mark Zuckerberg in 2015.

So, this week, US President Donald Trump and the first lady, Melania, followed in the footsteps of six past American presidents with a state visit to India and naturally stopped off at the Unesco-listed, Instagram hot spot.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid on an oversize state visit for the Trumps, including a rally of 100,000 people in a "Namaste Trump" event to rival last year's "Howdy Modi" gathering in Texas.

There was also a military parade before the countries agreed a $3 billion (Dh11bn)  defence deal, as well as a visit to the ashram of India's independence leader Mahatma Gandhi.

But beneath the surface is a simmering trade dispute that has existed since the US cancelled India’s special trade status and could trouble the relationship between the countries.

Mr Trump hinted this week that the two nations could iron out their issues, but admitted Mr Modi was a tough negotiator.

Senior US officials have also hinted that Mr Trump could bring up the new Indian citizenship law that can grant nationality to thousands of non-Muslims from neighbouring Muslim-majority countries.

The law has sparked months of protests and 30 people have died since December when the bill was passed by parliament.

A policeman and two protesters were killed in clashes on Monday as Mr Trump arrived in the country.