MAGA Indians went all in on Trump. Many right-wingers can't stand them

At a glance:

• Indian Americans hold prominent roles in the Trump administration, including deputy press secretary Kush Desai, FBI director Kash Patel, and second lady Usha Vance.
• Despite their support for Trump, many Indian Americans are facing a surge in racist rhetoric from within the Republican party, including slurs and calls to "go back."
• The H-1B visa program has become a flashpoint, with Republican governors like Ron DeSantis and Greg Abbott pledging to eliminate it in their states.

The Backlash Against Indian Conservatives

At a Montana State University event for Turning Point USA in October, former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy faced hostile questioning from white students about his Hindu faith and culture. One woman asked why he seemed to be "masquerading as a Christian," while another man challenged his ability to represent Ohioans, given that 64 percent of the state is Christian. This incident is not isolated; Ramaswamy has previously encountered such rhetoric, including from conservative commentator Ann Coulter, who stated she would not vote for him because he is Indian. The surge in anti-Indian racism online, often from MAGA adherents, is creating a hostile environment for Indian Americans, even those who are part of the conservative movement.

The backlash is part of a broader trend of racist rhetoric targeting Indian Americans, despite their significant contributions to sectors like technology and healthcare. Many Indian Americans who supported Trump now feel betrayed and fearful that such hatred will become a permanent feature of the Republican party. Anang Mittal, a creative strategist who worked for Republicans and resigned in 2024, notes that after Trump's victory, "a lot of people started looking for the next enemy," and that enemy is now Indian Americans, including conservatives. This sentiment is fueled by the rise of white nationalist groups like Groypers, who embrace the idea of a "heritage American" that excludes non-white Christians.

Prominent Roles in the Administration

Indian Americans hold several high-profile positions in the Trump administration, including White House deputy press secretary Kush Desai, FBI director Kash Patel, assistant attorney general for civil rights Harmeet Dhillon, White House AI adviser Sriram Krishnan, National Institutes of Health director Jay Bhattacharya, and second lady Usha Vance. These individuals represent a powerful minority within an overwhelmingly white administration, and they are among the few people of color in key roles. However, they work alongside colleagues who have expressed racist sentiments, such as "never trust a Chinaman or Indian" and "normalize Indian hate." This creates a paradox: Indian Americans are part of a government that has made opposition to diversity a central issue.

Despite these challenges, Desai emphasizes that Indian Americans were an important part of the coalition that reelected Trump in 2024 and that many are playing key roles in the administration. He adds that Trump has repeatedly condemned bigotry in all forms. The presence of Indian Americans in the administration is often framed through the lens of the "model minority" myth, which historically praised Asian immigrants for assimilation but has recently flipped into a threat. Some Republicans view Indian Americans as assimilating to take well-paying jobs, while others see them as outsiders who do not share the nation's founding values. This tension is evident in the questioning Ramaswamy faced and in the broader discourse within the party.

The H-1B Visa Flashpoint

One of the main sources of resentment toward Indians in the US is the H-1B visa program, which allows US companies to hire skilled foreign workers. In 2024, approximately 80,000 new H-1B petitions for Indian workers were approved, primarily in the tech sector. The program drew significant attention after Ramaswamy posted on X in December 2024, blaming American culture for venerating mediocrity over excellence and explaining why tech companies hire foreign workers. The post, viewed over 127 million times, was met with a tidal wave of slurs and revulsion toward the visa program. It also reportedly led to Ramaswamy's departure from DOGE in January 2025.

While Ramaswamy and Elon Musk defended aspects of the H-1B visa, other Republicans have called for its elimination. In January, Texas Republican Party chairman Abraham George, an American citizen born in India, called for the state to ban hiring workers on H-1B visas. Florida governor Ron DeSantis and Texas governor Greg Abbott have also pledged to eliminate hiring at universities and in government through H-1Bs in their states. Conservative tech entrepreneur Sidharth, a pseudonym used to protect his identity, argues that right-wing messaging about H-1Bs is rife with misinformation. He notes that the average American is likely to believe what they see on social media, regardless of the facts. This has led to a hostile environment for Indian Americans, with some receiving threats for speaking out against the racism.

Shifting Allegiances and Party Identity

The rise in anti-Indian racism has caused some Indian Americans to reevaluate their support for the Republican party. Sidharth, who voted for Trump in 2024 hoping for better policies on legal immigration, now considers himself an "issue-based" independent. He is concerned that the party has been "lost completely, forever, to alt-right, Nazi behavior." Similarly, Anang Mittal resigned from his role in 2024, noting that the right's purity tests, which increasingly rely on race and religion, are a source of worry. He points to the case of Dinesh D'Souza, a conservative commentator who became a target of anti-Indian racism after decrying Groyperism. D'Souza, who has posted racist AI-generated content on X, is now told to "go back to India" by his followers.

JD Vance, whose wife Usha Vance is Hindu, has also faced scrutiny. At a Mississippi Turning Point event in October, Vance addressed his wife's faith by saying, "I believe in the Christian Gospel, and I hope eventually my wife comes to see it the same way." Vance has defended his wife against attacks from Fuentes and Groypers, stating that anyone who attacks Usha Vance "can eat shit." However, his comments have been seen as problematic by some Indian Americans. The shifting allegiances reflect a broader identity crisis within the Republican party, as it grapples with the role of race and religion in its platform. Some Indian Americans who once saw themselves as part of the conservative movement now feel alienated by the party's embrace of white nationalist rhetoric.

The Future of the Republican Party

As Republicans look toward the 2028 presidential election, they must confront the question of whether anti-Indian racism is a feature or a bug of the party. Trump's approval rating among Indian Americans is particularly low, at 29 percent, compared to his overall rating of 35 percent. This suggests that the party's stance on issues like immigration and identity is pushing away a key demographic. The presence of Indian Americans in the administration has not shielded them from racism, and their support for Trump has not insulated the party from the consequences of such rhetoric. Scholars like Siddhartha Deb describe the Indian Americans in the Trump administration as part of a "comprador class" that is cozying up to power, but this has not translated into acceptance within the party's base.

The future of the Republican party may depend on its ability to address the rise in anti-Indian racism and to reconcile its conservative principles with a diverse America. Some Indian Americans, like comedian Nimesh Patel, have criticized the representation in the administration with blunt terms, calling them the president's "DEI, or 'dick eating Indians.'" This sentiment underscores the deep divisions within the party. As the party moves forward, it must decide whether it will continue to embrace the "heritage American" ideal or whether it will become more inclusive. The answer will have significant implications for the party's electoral prospects and for the future of American politics.