A new survey highlights Indian Americans' political sentiments, showcasing a split in opinions about US-India relations under the Biden and Trump administrations.
**Concerns Mount Among Indian Americans Regarding US-India Relations Under Trump Administration**
**Concerns Mount Among Indian Americans Regarding US-India Relations Under Trump Administration**
Indian Americans express optimism for India's future but worry about ties with the US under Trump, reveals survey.
Indian Americans are increasingly feeling optimistic about their homeland's prospects, yet apprehensions about US-India relations in view of a potential second term for Donald Trump are prevalent, according to a recent survey. The 2024 Indian-American Survey, conducted by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace with YouGov in October, focused on the political attitudes of Indian Americans, revealing critical insights into how they perceive US diplomacy towards India amid ongoing global tensions.
A wave of political developments unfolded following significant elections in both India and the US last year, alongside growing but sometimes fraught ties between the two nations. Controversies such as the federal indictment of Indian billionaire Gautam Adani and claims of India being involved in an assassination plot on US soil have further complicated the diplomatic landscape.
Sentiments from over five million Indian Americans were gauged with a focus on important questions: How satisfied are Indian Americans with Joe Biden's approach to US-India relations? Do they view Trump as a viable alternative? And what is their outlook on India's trajectory post the 2024 elections?
The survey, which drew responses from 1,206 Indian-American adults, underscored a sharp partisan divide on opinions regarding the US leadership. A comparison between Biden and Trump illustrates that the current administration is generally viewed more favorably concerning US-India relations. Within this context, a hypothetical administration led by Kamala Harris would likely be preferred over another Trump term. This finding is driven by the partisan makeup of the Indian American community: a significant 66% of Indian-American Republicans perceive Trump as favorable for the bilateral relationship, while only 8% of Democrats share that sentiment.
Despite previous camaraderie displayed during their meetings, Trump has openly criticized India's trade policies, making the diplomacy between the two nations a subject of contention. Meanwhile, the sensational “murder-for-hire” accusations against a former Indian intelligence officer, due to a claimed plot against a US-based advocate for Khalistan, have only reached half of the survey respondents, signaling a potential disconnect in information and community engagement.
When discussing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, perspectives remain polarized along party lines, showing Democrats leaning towards Palestinian empathy, in contrast with Republicans who are more pro-Israel. Notably, after the recent violence in the region, forty percent of respondents expressed concern over Biden's perceived bias towards Israel.
As for opinions on India's current status, 47% of Indian Americans believe the nation is progressing positively, a sentiment echoed concerning Prime Minister Narendra Modi's performance. While a significant portion supports Modi, half of the survey participants remained unaware of the assassination plot controversy, raising questions about information accessibility within the community.
Milan Vaishnav, a co-author of the study, emphasized the increasingly selective engagement of Indian Americans with political matters both in the US and India, suggesting that media exposure, particularly in the digital age, shapes community opinions significantly.
The survey findings reflect a complex reality of the Indian American diaspora, where sentiments towards political leadership diverge based on personal experiences, party affiliation, and information access. As political allegiances continue to evolve, the community remains bound by a strong cultural connection to India, hinting at the intricate web of loyalty and engagement among Indian Americans towards both nations.
A wave of political developments unfolded following significant elections in both India and the US last year, alongside growing but sometimes fraught ties between the two nations. Controversies such as the federal indictment of Indian billionaire Gautam Adani and claims of India being involved in an assassination plot on US soil have further complicated the diplomatic landscape.
Sentiments from over five million Indian Americans were gauged with a focus on important questions: How satisfied are Indian Americans with Joe Biden's approach to US-India relations? Do they view Trump as a viable alternative? And what is their outlook on India's trajectory post the 2024 elections?
The survey, which drew responses from 1,206 Indian-American adults, underscored a sharp partisan divide on opinions regarding the US leadership. A comparison between Biden and Trump illustrates that the current administration is generally viewed more favorably concerning US-India relations. Within this context, a hypothetical administration led by Kamala Harris would likely be preferred over another Trump term. This finding is driven by the partisan makeup of the Indian American community: a significant 66% of Indian-American Republicans perceive Trump as favorable for the bilateral relationship, while only 8% of Democrats share that sentiment.
Despite previous camaraderie displayed during their meetings, Trump has openly criticized India's trade policies, making the diplomacy between the two nations a subject of contention. Meanwhile, the sensational “murder-for-hire” accusations against a former Indian intelligence officer, due to a claimed plot against a US-based advocate for Khalistan, have only reached half of the survey respondents, signaling a potential disconnect in information and community engagement.
When discussing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, perspectives remain polarized along party lines, showing Democrats leaning towards Palestinian empathy, in contrast with Republicans who are more pro-Israel. Notably, after the recent violence in the region, forty percent of respondents expressed concern over Biden's perceived bias towards Israel.
As for opinions on India's current status, 47% of Indian Americans believe the nation is progressing positively, a sentiment echoed concerning Prime Minister Narendra Modi's performance. While a significant portion supports Modi, half of the survey participants remained unaware of the assassination plot controversy, raising questions about information accessibility within the community.
Milan Vaishnav, a co-author of the study, emphasized the increasingly selective engagement of Indian Americans with political matters both in the US and India, suggesting that media exposure, particularly in the digital age, shapes community opinions significantly.
The survey findings reflect a complex reality of the Indian American diaspora, where sentiments towards political leadership diverge based on personal experiences, party affiliation, and information access. As political allegiances continue to evolve, the community remains bound by a strong cultural connection to India, hinting at the intricate web of loyalty and engagement among Indian Americans towards both nations.
