Indian Americans Disapprove Trump's First Year, But Democrats See Few Gains

A new survey shows most Indian Americans disliked Trump's first year. However, the Democratic Party did not gain much support from this group, showing a complex political view.
By Newsroom | Politics, US |

Introduction: Shifting Sands in the Diaspora

A recent survey reveals that a significant majority of Indian Americans hold an unfavorable view of Donald Trump's job performance during his first year as president. However, this widespread disapproval does not automatically translate into stronger support for the Democratic Party. The data suggests a complex political landscape within the Indian American community, marked by divisions across party lines and differing views on key policy areas.

Indian Americans largely disapprove of Trump’s first year job performance, but Democrats do not benefit: Survey - 1

Background: A Community at a Crossroads

In the initial year of Donald Trump's presidency, a substantial portion of Indian Americans expressed dissatisfaction with his policies. This sentiment was particularly pronounced among Democrats within the community, who opposed most of the administration's initiatives. Conversely, Indian American Republicans generally offered more support, although their approval still showed nuances, especially regarding specific immigration policies.

Indian Americans largely disapprove of Trump’s first year job performance, but Democrats do not benefit: Survey - 2

The survey also highlighted demographic and religious differences. Hindus tended to lean more towards the Democratic Party, while Christians were more inclined to support Republicans. This indicates that political alignment is not uniform across the diverse Indian American population.

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Indian Americans largely disapprove of Trump’s first year job performance, but Democrats do not benefit: Survey - 3

Evidence of Disapproval and Divided Loyalties

  • Broad Disapproval of Trump: Surveys consistently show a majority of Indian Americans disapproving of Donald Trump's performance. One report states that "large majorities of Indian Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of all three issues" covered in their survey. Another adds, "One year into his second term, Indian Americans broadly disapprove of Donald Trump’s performance as president."

  • Immigration Policy Scrutiny: The Trump administration's immigration policies have been a focal point of concern. The survey examined specific measures, including:

  • Arresting undocumented immigrants without criminal records.

  • Conducting workplace raids.

  • Deporting immigrants to third countries.

  • Ending birthright citizenship.

  • Imposing a $100,000 H-1B visa fee for new petitions.A "sizeable majority of Democrats oppose all five categories of policies," while Republicans showed "lower support for each of these than for immigration policy as a whole, though a majority of Indian American Republicans, more often than not, still supported these individual policies."

  • Concerns Over US-India Relations: Indian Americans expressed greater optimism about India's future but harbored significant worries regarding US-India relations under a potential second Donald Trump administration. They rated the Biden administration's handling of these ties more favorably than Trump's first term.

  • Lack of Hope and Satisfaction: Data indicates a general sense of low morale within the community. "Fewer than one in ten report feeling hopeful (7 percent), happy (6 percent), or satisfied (5 percent)." Furthermore, "one in five (26 percent) report feeling hopeless."

Democratic Party's Stagnant Gains

Despite widespread disapproval of Trump, the Democratic Party has not seen a commensurate increase in support among Indian Americans.

Indian Americans largely disapprove of Trump’s first year job performance, but Democrats do not benefit: Survey - 4

  • Declining Support Among Non-Graduates: Support for the Democratic Party "declined significantly among those without a college degree and remained stable for those with a college degree." This suggests that educational attainment may play a role in political leanings within the community.

  • Perception of Party Focus: Some Indian Americans appear to be reacting against what they perceive as the Democratic Party's emphasis on "progressive social agendas over practical concerns like economic stability, national security, and family values." There is a sense that the party might be "prioritizing symbolic inclusivity over pressing issues like economic growth, national security, and social cohesion."

  • Diaspora Division: A significant portion of Indian Americans, "forty-five percent of respondents," believe that electing more officials with certain political leanings would divide the diaspora.

Contrasting Views on Policy Areas

The survey data illustrates differing perspectives on specific policy areas within the Indian American community, particularly when comparing Democrats and Republicans.

Policy AreaDemocratic ViewRepublican View
Arresting undocumented immigrants (no criminal record)Majority opposeGenerally support (though less than overall immigration policy)
Workplace raids for undocumented immigrantsMajority opposeGenerally support (though less than overall immigration policy)
Deporting immigrants to third countriesMajority opposeGenerally support (though less than overall immigration policy)
Ending birthright citizenshipMajority opposeGenerally support (though less than overall immigration policy)
$100,000 H-1B visa fee for new petitionsMajority opposeGenerally support (though less than overall immigration policy)
Overall Immigration PolicyOpposition across most categoriesHigher support than specific measures, with a majority of Indian American Republicans supporting them.
US-India RelationsFavorable view of Biden administrationConcerns over Trump administration's approach.

Expert Analysis: A Nuanced Political Identity

Political analysts observe that the Indian American electorate is not monolithic. "Indian-Americans, like all Americans, demand leaders who will address their real, everyday concerns," suggesting a pragmatic approach to political choices. The community's engagement with political issues appears to be evolving, influenced by both domestic American politics and the relationship between the US and India. The observation that "the Indian-American vote should have been a slam dunk" for Democrats, particularly given figures like Kamala Harris, indicates a disconnect between party expectations and voter realities. This suggests that the community's political decisions are driven by a blend of policy concerns, national identity, and perceived party priorities.

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Conclusion: Unresolved Tensions and Future Outlook

The available evidence indicates a clear disapproval of Donald Trump's first-year job performance among Indian Americans. However, this sentiment has not translated into substantial gains for the Democratic Party, which faces challenges in retaining or increasing its support base within this demographic. Factors such as educational attainment, perceptions of party focus on social versus economic issues, and the specific impact of immigration policies appear to be significant influences on political allegiance. The community's concerns extend to US-India relations, where Trump's policies are viewed with more apprehension than those of the Biden administration. The political landscape for Indian Americans remains dynamic, with diverse views shaping their engagement with the broader American political system.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How did Indian Americans feel about Donald Trump's first year as president?
Most Indian Americans did not approve of Donald Trump's job performance during his first year in office. This was seen across many issues, including his handling of immigration.
Q: Did Donald Trump's low approval help the Democratic Party gain more support from Indian Americans?
No, even though many Indian Americans disapproved of Trump, the Democratic Party did not see a big increase in support from this group. Support for Democrats even went down for those without a college degree.
Q: What were the main concerns of Indian Americans regarding Donald Trump's policies?
Indian Americans were worried about Trump's immigration policies, such as arresting undocumented immigrants without criminal records and ending birthright citizenship. They also had concerns about how his administration would handle US-India relations.
Q: What are the different views within the Indian American community on policies?
Democrats in the community mostly opposed specific immigration policies like deporting immigrants to third countries and ending birthright citizenship. Republicans generally supported these policies, though sometimes less than overall immigration policy.
Q: How do Indian Americans view US-India relations under different presidents?
Indian Americans felt more positive about how the Biden administration handled US-India relations compared to Donald Trump's first term. They expressed worries about future US-India ties under a potential second Trump presidency.