With just five days until D-Day, one must admit that this has been a remarkable election, offering all the greatest hits that make American elections greatly entertaining for the viewer, as well as some alternative classics we’ve never seen before.
The greatest hits include classics that are part and parcel of American politics, like a Kennedy peccadillo or a presidential assassination attempt. But we’ve also had new alternative hits, such as the Washington Post and a VP candidate going on a popular podcast right before election season to discuss the gustatory benefits of matar (chickpea) paneer.
All in all, this has been the most desi race to the White House, with brown representation on both sides, but Donald Trump appeared to take it up a notch with his Happy Diwali message, which included a three-pronged outreach to Hindu Americans—a group that typically leans Democratic.
In a strongly worded message sent out on Diwali, Donald Trump condemned the violence against Hindus in Bangladesh, promised to protect Hindu-Americans against the anti-religion agenda of the “radical left,” and vowed to “strengthen the great partnership with India and his good friend Narendra Modi.”
He signed off by saying, “Also, Happy Diwali to All. I hope the Festival of Lights leads to the Victory of Good over Evil!”
Trump here is wooing a minority that has historically been anti-Republican, although that stance has been changing over recent years.
His first remark echoed views held by the global Hindu community, which feels that not enough attention is paid to the plight of Hindu minorities after Sheikh Hasina’s ouster in Bangladesh, including targeted attacks on communities during Durga Puja or the demand for Hindus to pay jizya—a tax aimed at non-Muslims. Interim chief Muhammad Yunus has sought to downplay these attacks, claiming they were “exaggerated,” despite protests in New York where he was labelled a “Hindu killer.”
Trump’s comments align with a sentiment among Hindus that they have been left feeling ignored.
The second remark hints at Senate Bill 403 in California, which came to be known as the California caste bill. This was introduced by State Senator Aisha Wahab to “outlaw discrimination based on caste by adding it to California’s civil rights protection,” though it was later vetoed by Governor Gavin Newsom.
Many of the organisations that supported the bill have a history of anti-Hindu propaganda, with one of the most prominent voices being Equality Labs, a California-based non-profit whose study was used to back these claims. However, that study has its issues. As Razib Khan noted in an UnHerd column titled America’s Fake Caste War, there were numerous problems with that survey. Conducted through an online, self-reported questionnaire, it was circulated through community organisations, social media, and South Asian networks. Drafted by South Asian academics and activists and endorsed by various Dalit advocacy groups, the survey employed snowball sampling, which introduced demographic and viewpoint biases.
The California bill was seen as an unfair attempt to target the Hindu American community, with organisations like the Hindu American Foundation opposing the bill on the grounds it would increase discrimination against Hindu Americans.
Governor Newsom’s veto was based on his view that the bill was “unnecessary” because existing civil rights laws already prevent discrimination based on race, ancestry, religion, national origin, and other protected categories. Newsom asserted that these existing protections were sufficient to address any caste-based discrimination without singling out specific communities.
All this was even more interesting given it was taking place in Kamala Harris’ backyard. In fact, whispers in Washington’s corridors have even suggested that Harris, as VP, played a part in the reversal to avoid angering the Hindu contingent within the Democratic Party.
Trump’s third statement, about building stronger ties with Modi, was aimed at Hindu Americans who hold Indian PM Narendra Modi in high esteem. More recently, on the Flagrant podcast, Donald Trump was full of lavish praise for Narendra Modi, describing him as a friend and “the nicest guy” but one who could be a “total killer” when needed. Reaching out to Modi is part of Trump’s Hindu outreach, in stark contrast to comments from the Washington establishment, including America’s ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, who has been critical of New Delhi over the Canada affair.
Trump’s outreach is even more astonishing considering his opponent is half-Indian and likely hopes to attract voters who share her origin story. The daughter of highly educated academics, Harris represents the classic second-generation high achiever looking to do something no person of Indian origin has ever managed: win the White House. Yet, Indian American voters, the second-largest immigrant group in the US, may not support Kamala Harris as strongly as they did Joe Biden in 2020. A recent Carnegie Endowment survey shows a decline in the community’s Democratic alignment, from 56% to 47%. Both parties are actively courting this influential community, with some Indian Americans gravitating towards Republican candidates, drawn to figures like Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy. Gender divisions are emerging, with more women supporting Harris due to her stance on reproductive rights, while younger men are showing growing support for Republicans, aligning with stricter immigration policies.
Harris’s identity as a Black woman has not resonated strongly with some within the Indian American community, who feel she has not embraced her Indian heritage. Her dosa video in 2020 with Mindy Kaling was mocked for appearing contrived.
Meanwhile, the Trump campaign has Vivek Ramaswamy, the first openly Hindu Presidential nominee who remains an important part of Team Trump. Ramaswamy’s story as a high-achieving second-generation immigrant resonates with many Hindu Americans, even though his version of Hinduism at times seems to resemble Christianity. As this author has argued in the past: “Many Trump supporters had hoped Ramaswamy would be Trump’s VP pick, but he wasn’t in the running, at least not in the final stages as Trump chose Ramaswamy’s old Yale mate, JD Vance. That said, Ramaswamy appears poised for a long career within the new MAGA movement, with Time magazine dubbing him the most obvious ‘heir apparent’ to Donald Trump.” JD Vance’s wife, Usha, is also Indian American, and Team Trump has tried to use their stories to highlight the idea of good immigration versus bad immigration.
This was showcased most recently when JD Vance spoke about his love for matar (peas) paneer on the Joe Rogan podcast, arguing for the gustatory and dietary superiority of Indian vegetarian food over plant-based meat.
Although it’s late in the campaign, Trump’s remarks are likely intended to kindle a dormant anger among Hindus worldwide who feel they are often seen as an easy target for left-leaning liberals. Like Jews after October 7, they wonder why the plight of Hindus in minority situations is ignored, or why Hindus are sometimes painted as adjacent to white supremacists.
It’s important to remember that Indian Americans are not only the second-largest immigrant group (after Mexican-Americans), but also one of the wealthiest, whose interests and concerns are becoming increasingly important. It’s a far cry from the time when Indian representation was merely Apu on The Simpsons. Indian Americans have made remarkable contributions across various sectors in the United States, from technology to business, and are the wealthiest immigrant group.
After Donald Trump survived the first assassination attempt, ISKCON Kolkata vice-president Radharamn Das recalled a remarkable story: “In July 1976, Donald Trump had come to the rescue of ISKCON devotees looking for a large space to construct the chariots by providing his train yard for free. Today, during the Rathyatra festival, it was Lord Jagannath’s turn to return the favour.” Now, Team Trump will be wondering if the worshippers of Lord Jagannath will help him push his chariot past the finish line.
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