World
Prominent US Right-Wing Influencers Stoke Anti-India Rhetoric On Social Media Amid Trump’s Tariff Offensive
US President Donald Trump. (Scott Olson/GettyImages) (Representative Image)
Prominent right-wing voices in the US have stepped up attacks on Indian workers, students, and outsourcing industries, intensifying anti-India sentiment online, the Hindustan Times reported.
The campaign comes amid trade frictions after Donald Trump imposed a 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods.
Right-wing news broadcaster Fox News' host Laura Ingraham argued that trade deals with India would “require more visas” and suggested India seek terms from China instead.
Controversial conservative activist Charlie Kirk accused Indian professionals of displacing American workers, while commentator Jack Posobiec called for “100 per cent tariffs” on foreign call centres and remote jobs.
The sharp rhetoric marks a shift from 2024, when Indian-American voters backed Trump and the Republicans in significant numbers for the first time.
Many now say they feel alienated.
“So many Indian-American voters went GOP in 2024 only to regret it months later, seeing this rhetoric. This is just blatant racism,” one user wrote online, as quoted by the Hindustan Times.
Some critics within the conservative camp described the campaign as driven by “entitlement” and fear of competition from immigrants.
“Some conservatives don't want competition from hardworking immigrants who outwork & outperform them,” He said.
Indian American Congressman Ro Khanna also warned against damaging bilateral ties.
“We can’t allow the ego of Donald Trump to destroy a strategic relationship with India, that is key to ensuring that America leads and not China,” he said.
Indians account for 75 per cent of H-1B visa holders, contributing to innovations at major tech firms.
Over 200,000 Indian students study in the US, adding billions to university revenues and local economies.
Experts caution that restricting Indian migration could weaken America’s edge in technology and higher education.
