‘Hindus are excited’: Indian-Americans rally behind Donald Trump’s return

Indian-origin supporters, eagerly waiting for Donald Trump to take the oath as the 47th President of the United States, on Sunday expressed hope that the 78-year-old Republican leader would do a much better job for the Hindu community.

With Trump set to take the oath of office in the United States Capitol Rotunda in hours, a line of his supporters, braving the freezing temperatures and steady drizzle, stretched across several downtown Washington blocks wearing trademark MAGA caps and jackets.

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Speaking to India Today’s Gaurav Sawant, an Indian-origin Trump supporter said, “All the Hindus are excited. We think he (Trump) is going to do a much better job for our community. He has faith in the Hindu religion”.

When asked about the reasons behind bringing Trump back to the White House, another Indian-origin man said, “It’s too early to comment definitively because we don’t know what he has got on the table. Once he’s inaugurated, we’ll need to observe his actions for at least six months to see if he delivers on his promises. While I am a hardcore Democrat, I voted for Trump because I strongly support his stance against illegal immigration”.

A Trump supporter of Sikh origin expressed hope that the upcoming Republican administration would address Khalistani elements in the United States more effectively than the Biden administration.

“This is a very important occasion for us because we must convey a clear message to the authorities and the new administration. We need to educate them. As a Sikh, it is my responsibility to distinguish and clarify the situation,” he said. “Organisations like Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, and other Khalistani groups are violent and radical. They do not represent the Sikh community. Their actions are aimed at creating friction between India and the United States”.

From being the first former US President to be declared a convicted felon to surviving two assassination bids during his 2024 campaign, Donald Trump’s return to the White House has left the 4.5 million-strong Indian-American community at a crucial crossroads.

During Donald Trump’s first term, US-India relations saw notable growth, largely fueled by his strong personal rapport with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Apart from landmark events such as the 2019 ‘Howdy Modi’ rally in Houston and the 2020 ‘Namaste Trump’ event in Ahmedabad, ties between the two countries were strengthened by aligned strategic objectives, particularly the aim of countering China’s expanding influence through platforms like the Quad alliance.