The White House has announced that US President Donald J Trump will visit India in February in his first trip to India after becoming president. President Trump and the First Lady Melania will visit India on February 24 and 25.

“The President and The First Lady will travel to New Delhi and Ahmedabad, which is in Prime Minister Modi’s home state of Gujarat and played such an important role in Mahatma Gandhi’s life and leadership of the Indian independence movement,” according to a statement from the White House.

Trump agreed to the two-visit to India in a phone call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the weekend.

“During a phone call over the weekend, President Trump and Prime Minister Modi agreed the trip will further strengthen the United States-India strategic partnership and highlight the strong and enduring bonds between the American and Indian people,” said the US.

His predecessor, Barack Obama, had travelled to India twice, in 2010 and 2015.

"President Trump's trip to India is timely in view of the bilateral trade issues that need to be resolved and in light of the collaborations between the US and India in various realms," M R Rangaswami, Indian-American philanthropist and head of Indiaspora, told PTI.

The visit will also boost prospects of gaining popularity among Indian-American voters for President Trump, who is facing re-election challenge this year.