Donald Trump Thanks Indian and Hindus

The event in Florida, which has a sizeable Indian-American population, was attended by a large number of community members. This is for the first time that Trump has acknowledged the contribution of Indian-Americans and Hindus in his historic electoral victory.

“Where are they? We have a big group. There they are. I want to thank you. You folks were amazing. They were amazing and voted and they were fantastic,” Trump said, pointing his fingers to the Indian-American community present at the rally.

In October, Trump became the first presidential nominee of a major US party to reach out to Indian-Americans, pitching himself to them directly at a rally in Edison, New Jersey.

He professed his love for Hindus there, saying, “I love Hindu (in the singular)” and that under his administration, India and the US will be “best friends”.

Trump spoke glowingly of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling him a “great man”, and used an election slogan inspired by one used by the Indian leader in his own campaign: “Abki bar Trump sarkar.”

The Trump family – son Eric Trump and his wife Lara Trump – then visited several Hindu temples over Diwali in Virginia and Florida.

The Trump campaign also released an advertisement in which he was seen saying “Aab Ki Baar Trump Sarkar”.

Republican Hindu Coalition chairman Shalabh Salli Kumar said all this had an impact on voting pattern of Indian- Americans, who traditionally have been a strong Democratic supporters. Based on a survey, Kumar said more than 60 per cent of the community members voted for Trump this time. In his address, Trump asked people to dream big.
“Dream big and bold and daring. I am asking you to believe in yourself and asking you to believe in America. Together we will make America great again,” he said. Trump reiterated his plan of extreme vetting of refugee, asylum and visa applicants seeking to enter the US from regions where terrorists have strongholds.
He said his administration will suspend immigration from some regions where applicants “cannot be safely processed or vetted” due to a lack of government records.

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