From Harmeet Dhillon To Kash Patel! Donald Trump’s Master Stroke To Lure Indian Americans Away From Democratic Base News24 –
For decades, Democrats believed that Indian Americans largely aligned with their party and engaged in a more cautious or critical manner. The party felt confident in relying on Indian-American support without question. Indian-American group is highly considered as one of the fast growing immigrant population with high turnout rates at elections. Since Indian Americans, on average, are more educated and financially well-off than many other immigrant groups, Democrats have long viewed them as a natural fit for their party. With its emphasis on progressive values and commitment to diversity, the Democratic Party has believed that Indian people would naturally align with its vision, representing a broad coalition of people from different races, religions, and backgrounds.
According to reports, Between 2000 and 2018, the Indian American population increased by nearly 150%, making it the second-largest immigrant group in the country. Indian Americans, on average, have higher education levels and household incomes, making them valuable donors to political campaigns and effective in mobilizing voters.
In select swing states, the Indian American population is larger than the margin of victory that separated Hillary Clinton and Trump in the closely contested 2016 presidential race. Seventy percent of Indians who migrated after 2000 are considered part of the ‘IT Generation,’ as they primarily moved to the U.S. for education and careers in the technology sector.
Since the election, in which Trump defeated Vice President Kamala Harris, who is Black and of Indian descent, Trump have been naming Indian Americans to prominent positions in his administration. Many individuals of Indian origin have been appointed to some of the country’s highest positions, ranging from the Department of Justice and White House policy advisors to the FBI. The earlier Trump presidency, between 2017 and 2021, also had Indian Americans in key positions including Nikki Haley as United States Ambassador to the United Nations.
Indians Holding Top Positions In The US
Indians holding top positions in the US includes Jay Bhattacharya as nominee for director of the National Institutes of Health, Harmeet Dhillon to run the Civil Rights Division at the Department of Justice, Kash Patel to lead the FBI, Sriram Krishnan as senior White House policy advisor for artificial intelligence, Vivek Ramaswamy as co-chair of the new Department of Government Efficiency. Paul Kapur, a renowned expert on India-Pakistan security and nuclear affairs, has been nominated as the Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia.
Harmeet Dhillon Recites Sikh Prayer At Republican Convention
After Dhillon, Trump’s nominee for the Justice Department, recited a Sikh prayer onstage at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee last August, she faced a wave of online backlash. Some Trump supporters even criticized her, claiming that she was worshipping a “foreign god.” However, Dhillon, who has previously represented Trump in legal cases, has been a strong advocate for religious freedom, having fought legal battles to protect it.
Vice President JD Vance’s wife, Usha Vance, will also make history as the first Indian American second lady.
Pre-Election Survey On Indian American Voters
Various pre-election surveys done before 2024 polls revealed aligning of Indian Americans towards Donald Trump. Carnegie Endowment survey found that nearly 1 in 3 respondents planned to vote for Donald Trump, which is up from 22% in a similar poll in 2020. The American Electorate Voter Poll, found 33% of support for Trump among Indian Americans. Despite this shift, 66% of Indian American voters still favored Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee is also notable.
The survey was led by Indian American men under age 40, most of them born in the U.S., who were more pro-Trump than both men and women over 40.
What Expert’s Say
According to the Carnegie Endowment report, Indian Americans are one of the most rapidly growing immigrant groups in the United States, roughly doubling in size in each of the last four decades. As per the data in 2018, the size of the Indian American population stood at 4.16 million, out of which 2.62 million were U.S. citizens.
The Indian American community, now the second-largest immigrant group in the U.S., has significantly expanded its political and economic influence. By appointing Indian Americans to high-profile roles, the administration is not only recognizing their contributions but also aiming to strengthen ties for the future.
Experts see Trump’s appointment of Indian Americans to key positions as a strategic move aimed at appealing to a shifting voter base, particularly Indian American voters, who are increasingly demonstrating political diversity.
Written By
Lakshmi Ranjith Nair
Feb 22, 2025 16:14