Indian Americans would be voting for me, says Trump

Highlighting great relationship that he has developed with Indian Americans and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President Donald Trump said that he would think that Indian Americans would vote for him in vember 3 presidential election. “We have great support from India. We have great support from Prime Minister Modi. I would think that Indian (American) people would be voting for Trump,” president told reporters at a White House news conference.

Trump was responding to a question on a video titled, "Four more years" released by Trump Campaign during Republican National Convention last month. Tweeted by Kimberly Guilfoyle, national chair of Trump Victory Finance Committee and retweeted by his son Donald Trump Jr, video conceptualised by Al Mason, co-chair of Trump Victory Indian American Finance Committee, has short clips from Modi-Trump joint address in Houston last year and Ahmedabad in February this year.

“Would Kimberly, Don Jr., and Ivanka Trump, who are very popular among Indian Americans, would be campaigning on your behalf among Indian Americans with your views on India-US relationship?” he was asked.

“I kw India and I understood those young people (Kimberley, Donald J Trump Jr and Ivanka) that you mentioned. y're very good young people. And I kw ir relationship with India is very good and so is mine,” Trump said.

president said that he has a very good relationship with Modi.

“Prime Minister Modi is a friend of mine and he's doing a very good job. thing easy, but he's done a very good job,” he said as he recollected his historic address at 'Howdy Mody' event in Houston last September.

“We had an event in Houston, as you kw. And it was a fantastic event. I was invited by Prime Minister Modi and this was a massive (event)... And it was incredible. And prime minister could t have been more generous. We have great support from India. We have great support from Prime Minister Modi,” Trump said.

president n referred to his India visit early this year in February before coronavirus pandemic hit two countries.

“I also, as you kw, went to India just prior to pandemic setting in because India has been hit very hard, left really about a week before that, and we had an incredible time. What we saw people are so incredible it's really an incredible place, an incredible country and its definitely big,” he said.

“But you've got a great leader and he's a great person,” Trump said.

In recent weeks both Democrats and Republicans have intensified ir outreach to Indian American community, in particular in battleground states. A recent research by Mason in battleground states showed that Indian Americans who traditionally vote for Democrats are switching over to Republican party in significant numbers because friendship that Trump has with Modi and latter’s high popularity among a large section of community who number four million in US, of which 2.5 million are eligible to vote.

In battleground states, y number 1.3 million as per a recent remark made by Indian Americans in Democratic party. Mason’s survey was conducted before former vice president Joe Biden, Democratic party’s presidential candidate, selected Indian-origin Senator Kamala Harris as his running mate, a move Democratic party leader believe would stem flow of Indian Americans towards Republicans. Both Trump and his campaign, in recent remarks, assert that more Indian Americans support m than Democrats.

In various writings and remarks Democratic leaders in recent weeks have apprehended that Trump’s friendship with Modi might sway ir traditional vote bank election. Trump campaign believes that Indian Americans can play an important role in election, especially in battleground states like Michigan, Pennsylvania and Ohio, where two rival campaigns would be battling for every vote. Democratic campaign too is coming out with ideas and commercials to woo Indian Americans.

Democratic National Committee chair Tom Perez has addressed community virtually, wherein he has ackwledged key role that Indian Americans can play in battleground states. On August 15, both Biden and Harris made a video address to an Indian American event. campaign has released a policy paper for Indian Americans.