Washington, Nov 9: Members of the Indian-American community welcomed Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential election, saying the country needs a “strong leader” like him who will deliver on his promises to tame inflation and curtail illegal immigration.In a historic election, Trump defeated his Democratic rival Vice President Kamala Harris and was elected the 47th President of the United States, becoming only the second commander-in-chief in over a century to win two nonconsecutive presidential terms.
Before Trump, it was Grover Cleveland who had served two nonconsecutive terms as President from 1885-1889 and 1893-1897.
With his electoral victory, Trump also became the first convicted felon and twice-impeached to be elected President. However, Trump’s criminal cases, his rhetoric or baggage from his previous tenure as President, including the January 6, 2021 riots at the US Capitol, had little impact on voters’ decision to rally behind him and give him a second stint in the White House.
The support for Trump was evident among members of the Indian-American community.
“Trump is a strong leader. The country needs strong leadership,” prominent Indian-American cardiologist and community leader Dr Avinash Gupta told PTI.
“We have seen what Trump did for four years, and then we saw the Biden-Harris administration for four years. The difference was very clear,” Gupta said.
Gupta highlighted that during Trump’s first presidency, the economy was in good shape, there were no new wars, he was good for India-US friendship and the borders were secure.
Gupta added that because of the wars going on in Ukraine and in the Middle East, “we need a strong leader who can put an end to all these wars and achieve global peace. We know that Trump is not a typical politician, so only he will be able to achieve this.”
Deepa, an Indian-American small business owner in the White Plains area of New York, said she voted for Trump in the election.
Outlining her reasoning behind her support for Trump, Deepa, who requested that only her first name be used, said that Trump has served as President before and “knows what should be done for the country. He is the right person.”
“Everyone has their personal choice. I think Trump is better,” she said.
When asked about Harris, who could have been the first woman President of the country, Deepa said: “Her being a woman does not matter. (The Democrats) never deliver on their promises. They say they will do something but they don’t. Trump is not like that. He does what he says,” Deepa, who lives with her young family in the Long Island area, said.
A New Jersey-based businessman, who did not wish to be identified, said that business owners are facing extremely difficult times due to high prices and the current state of the economy.
“Businesses are hurting. It is becoming unsustainable,” he said.
With pressing domestic issues like inflation and illegal immigration hurting the country as well as impacts of global conflicts such as the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, what the US needs is a leader like Trump to tackle these challenges, he added.