Donald Trump has once again been elected President of the United States. A large number of Hindus in the US also played an important role this time in his victory. On this issue, Gokul Kunnath — a political commentator, entrepreneur and the President of the United States Hindu Alliance, an Atlanta-based global Hindu advocacy organisation— talked to Organiser’s Assistant Editor Ravi Mishra. Gokul Kunnath said that a large number of Hindus broke away from the Democratic Party and voted for Trump this time. He pointed out that this time, powerful Hindu leaders like Usha Vance, Vivek Ramaswamy and Tulsi Gabbard, were deployed to rally support nationwide. Kunnath further added, “Trump was very sympathetic to the plight of Hindus in various parts of the world. He leveraged every opportunity to let Hindus and Indian Americans know that he cares and he would never tolerate the persecution of Hindus or unfair treatment of Hindus.” Excerpts.
Donald Trump has defeated Kamala Harris. How do you view the outcome of the 2024 US elections?
Truly historic. Trump won both the popular vote and the electoral vote against all predictions. His popularity has enabled the Republicans to attain a clear majority in the Senate and they are on track to win the House. The world will avoid the possibility of a nuclear war between nations. The world, especially America, will now prosper with greater speed than before. I am very optimistic about the true potential of the upcoming Trump Presidency.
How did this election differ from the previous one?
A large number of Americans voted early, unlike in past elections. Trump’s campaign aggressively encouraged early voting. Secondly, a larger number of voters participated in the 2024 elections. Trump’s campaign was well organised and he planned well for the desired outcome. The Democratic Party was struggling with Biden’s candidacy and the prospect of imminent defeat. Kamala Harris was brought into the picture at the last minute, without going through the normal Democratic primaries.
What key factors contributed to Donald Trump’s victory?
The Democratic Party used its traditional resources as usual. They tapped into the major mass media platforms, wealthy elites and the educational network they had created over the decades through Teachers unions and non-profit groups. Trump also used traditional Republican allies, People of Faith, business community and influential allies like Elon Musk.
There is a trust deficit between the mass media and social media companies on one side and the common people on the other. The integrity of the electoral process was also called into question by Trump, which fired up his supporters. At the same time, Trump was intelligent in building a team devoted to exploiting all social media platforms, especially the podcasters. He also went straight to the people at grass roots level and connected with them through carefully planned rallies, drawing thousands of disenchanted Americans. Moreover, his outreach to the core constituents of the Democratic Party was unprecedented. Hence, a large number of African Americans, Hispanics, Jews, Hindus and other minorities left Democrats and voted for Trump who improved the art of grasping the public pulse, compared to the perceived elitist approach of Kamala Harris.
Could you elaborate on the role of the Bharatiya diaspora, especially Hindus, in Trump’s victory?
Indian Americans, particularly Hindus, played a crucial role in this election. Many may overlook the role of this powerful new group of voters given the margin of victory in Trump’s favour. But the reality is that a larger number of Hindus broke away from the Democratic Party and voted for Trump. Besides, Trump relied on untrustworthy aides and supporters in his inner circle in previous elections. This time, powerful Hindu leaders, who were former Democrats, were deployed to rally support nationwide. Notable among them are Usha Vance, Vivek Ramaswamy and Tulsi Gabbard. Thirdly, Trump was very sympathetic to the plight of Hindus in various parts of the world. He leveraged every opportunity to let Hindus and Indian Americans know that he cares and he would never tolerate the persecution of Hindus or unfair treatment of Hindus.
Which candidate received the most support from the Bharatiya diaspora—Trump or Harris?
Indian Americans and Hindus were solidly behind the Democratic Party in previous decades just like many other minority religious and ethnic communities. But there has been a gradual exodus of voters from these blocks in favour of the Republican Party. There is no doubt about how this exodus played towards the victory of Donald Trump and his allies in the US Congress.
Do you think Kamala Harris’s defeat is a significant setback for the radical left and the “deep state”?
The left around the world has always built an elaborate patronage system upon gaining power. America is no different. In recent years, especially after 9/11, the left in the US became more radical, surrendering to the extreme “Progressive” faction of the Democratic Party, who are vocal critics of Protestant and Evangelical Christians, Orthodox and Conservative Jews, Buddhists and Hindus. Even former President Obama had warned about the disastrous consequences of the Democratic Party drifting itself towards the extreme left.
What global political changes might we expect following Trump’s victory?
A Trump administration will be less likely to give priority to environmental policies over economic development and progress. This policy shift is in consonance with the longstanding aspirations of the Global South. I see other major shifts in American foreign policy given the majority enjoyed by his party in the US Senate. He is likely to facilitate the end of major wars in Ukraine and the West Asia. He is also likely to ensure that no new wars break out, which can disrupt global peace, security and economic progress. He will contain the ambitions of China and Pakistan, while pressuring Russia and North Korea to act more responsibly. Trump will continue his fight against radical Islamist groups and countries. There is a consensus in his team that the leftist social agenda is not healthy for the world. This will translate into a more responsible engagement with the world rather than interferences and interventions of the past. He has convinced America to steer free of extremism of any kind and it will be reflected in his foreign policy. What is a delight to the civilized world is bound to be a nightmare for barbaric forces.
How do you see US-Bharat relations evolving under Donald Trump administration?
This will be the golden age of US-Bharat relations. President Elect Trump embraces the ascend of Bharat as a major superpower and the suffering of Hindus as a civilization. He acknowledges the reality that today’s world is unquestionably multipolar and will work with Bharat to achieve his goals for the world through the close friendship he enjoys with Narendra Modiji. Both leaders will explore ways in which the bilateral relations could be taken to new heights, keeping in mind the mutual interests of both nations. Trump’s Presidency and Modiji’s growing popularity in the world could not have come at a more important time in the history of the world. The future looks very bright.
