Indian Americans Face Racism Within the Republican Party Despite High-Level Roles

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 18:05:00 +0200

Indian Americans have played prominent roles in the Trump administration, holding positions such as White House deputy press secretary, FBI director, and National Institutes of Health director. Despite their contributions, they face growing racism and hostility from segments of the party, particularly from the Groyper movement and some white nationalist supporters. High-profile figures like Vivek Ramaswamy have publicly faced discrimination questioning their cultural and religious identity. The anti-Indian sentiment is linked in part to debates over the H-1B visa program and perceived threats to American jobs. While Indian Americans have historically been labeled a “model minority,” that perception is now being weaponized against them by some party members who promote the notion that only white Christians are the true Americans. Conservatives like Anang Mittal express concern over purity tests in the party based on race and religion. Even figures such as Dinesh D'Souza and JD Vance hav