Daijiworld Media Network - Washington

Washington, Nov 9: Indian-Americans aligned with the MAGA movement are increasingly finding themselves targets of the very xenophobia they once helped mainstream. Prominent pro-Trump figures like Dinesh D’Souza and Kash Patel are now facing attacks from the far-right Groyper faction, led by extremist Nick Fuentes, highlighting growing divisions within the Republican base.

The tension stems from the movement’s nationalist and “America First” rhetoric, which casts suspicion on minority allies. Conservative Indian-Americans who have built careers supporting the MAGA agenda are now being dismissed as politically expendable once they are perceived as less useful.

The flashpoint came after a Halloween post by Vivek Ramaswamy, a Trump supporter running for Ohio governor, triggered racist online attacks demanding he “go back to your country” and criticizing his Hindu faith. Patel and others have faced similar abuse for openly embracing their Indian heritage and religion, with even Vice President JD Vance’s wife, Usha Vance, being labeled a “political liability” by MAGA extremists.

For longtime figures like D’Souza, the backlash represents a bitter irony. Having built a career as a conservative commentator and promoting far-right talking points, he is now witnessing the movement he supported turn against Indian-Americans. D’Souza condemned the attacks on Ramaswamy as “unreal” and blamed media figures like Tucker Carlson and conservative organizations for normalizing extremist rhetoric. He warned that continued hostility could drive minorities, including Black, Latino, and Indian-American voters, away from the GOP.

Signs of this shift are emerging. In Edison, New Jersey, a heavily Indian-American community, over 50% of desi voters reportedly switched from Republican to Democratic in a recent gubernatorial election. Analysts attribute the swing to disillusionment with the party’s nativism, strict immigration policies, and attacks on high-profile Indian-American figures.

Commentators on the left have highlighted the irony of the situation, noting that figures like D’Souza profited from far-right circles for decades but are now facing the consequences of the toxic environment they helped create.

This growing internal conflict underscores the challenges minority supporters face in a movement increasingly defined by white nationalist and exclusionary rhetoric. Indian-Americans in MAGA circles are confronting the harsh reality that loyalty alone may no longer guarantee acceptance.